Method and system for conveying articles and an apparatus for doing the same

ABSTRACT

A conveyor for transporting and elevating articles and a method and system for conveying articles up inclines is provided. The conveyor has a conveyor belt and a plurality of support elements extending outward from the article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt advancing upward along the incline. The support elements prevent conveyed articles from sliding down the conveyor belt on the incline. The article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt may provide a low-friction retention surface to articles leaning away from the conveyor belt on the incline.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation application of and claims the benefitof priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/641,126, filed onMar. 6, 2015, which is a Continuation in Part application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/154,141, filed on Jan. 13, 2014, which claimspriority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/751,722, filedon Jan. 11, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated byreference herein in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to power-driven conveyors and, moreparticularly, to belt conveyors advancing on steep inclines to elevatearticles, especially tires and loose and packaged materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a tire manufacturing plant, tires molded in rows of tires presses aredeposited on a trench conveyor and transported to an inspection,balance, or trim station. Because trench conveyors are typicallypositioned below the presses at a relatively low elevation, inclineconveyors are used to elevate the tires received from the trenchconveyor to the level of the presses or higher for transport tosubsequent finishing stations. Belt conveyors, such as modular plasticbelt conveyors with high-friction conveying-surface characteristics,work well on shallow inclines. On steeper inclines, however, belts withconveying surfaces textured with inverted cones or other non-skidprotrusions work well when new. As the protrusions wear, tires begin toslide down the conveying surface as the belt advances up a steepincline. Rubber-topped belts are not so susceptible to wear, but theslippery mold-release material used to ease ejection of the tires fromthe presses coats the rubber conveying surface of the belt, which thenloses its effectiveness as a high-friction surface. Consequently,incline angles are limited to a maximum of about 25° off horizontal.Such shallow inclines have a large footprint, taking up valuable floorspace. Even if tires could be prevented from sliding along the conveyingsurface on steep inclines, there must be provisions to prevent tiresfrom falling away from the belt. A wall or other static structure insliding contact with high-friction articles, such as tires, being liftedon the incline may damage the articles and will increase the load,requiring an oversized belt and drive system.

In tire warehouses or stores and service stations stocking large numbersof tires, the tires are usually stacked to great heights. Further, thetires may be stacked on shelves or second levels and thus begin to bestacked at heights over 6 feet. Conveyors may be used to elevate thetires to the level of the tire storage or higher for transport toadditional floors. Traditional conveyors use friction or protrusions toprevent the tires from sliding down the inclined conveyor or fromfalling off of the side of the conveyor belt. However, friction andprotrusions are not fail-safe methods and tires often fall off of theconveyor causing harm to people and property located near the conveyor.

The tire distribution process often includes transporting largequantities of tires from the plants where they are manufactured to thevarious facilities where tires are delivered to consumers and/or mountedon vehicles. The processes for transporting tires from these plants towholesalers, retailers, and service centers typically involve the use oflarge vessels. For example, semi-trailers are used for transportationover the road, rail cars are used for transportation via rail, andshipping containers are used for transportation over water. Further,these vessels often provide storage of tires prior to and aftertransport.

To minimize the costs associated with such storage and transportation,it is desirable to pack tires into each storage and/or transportationvessel in such a manner as to maximize the density of tires within thevessel, while providing satisfactory stability of the loaded tires andavoiding permanent deformation of the loaded tires. Maintenance of tiresunder a compressive load has been found to improve the stability of theloaded tires. However, compression may lead to permanent deformation oftires in some stacking configurations.

Additionally, to minimize the costs associated with storing the tiresonce they arrive at their destination (e.g., facilities where tires aredelivered to consumers and/or mounted on vehicles such as warehouses andcar repair shops), it is desirable to pack tires into the storagelocation in such a manner as to maximize the density of tires within thestorage location, while providing satisfactory stability of the storedtires to prevent injury and save space and avoiding permanentdeformation of the stored tires, which may be stored for months or evenyears.

When the storage and/or transportation within the vessel is complete,tires are typically manually unloaded from the vessel onto a conveyor orpallet. A variety of implements exist for such handling of tires. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,526, issued to Black in 1974 andincorporated herein in its entirety, discloses a device for manipulatingtires. However, a device does not exist that sufficiently eliminates thedifficulties of manually stacking tires in a storage and/ortransportation vessel, and unloading the compressed tires from the samevessel. Moreover, no sufficient device currently exists to eliminate thereliance on the vessel to maintain a compressive load on tires. Althoughloaders for tires exist, for example, a machine loader and a loader tocreate a straight stack of tires, the existing loaders are not designedto stack tires in a herringbone pattern. Further still, the currentpractice is to rest tires directly against the wall and floor of thetrailer or boxcar. As a result, the weight of the stacks is unevenlydistributed causing further compression and strain on tires. Thus, alower-compression system for cradling tires during storage and shippingis desired.

Belt conveyors for tires have been produced to transport tires up tovarious heights. See U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2008/0053796 to DePaso et al.(“DePaso”). The entire disclosure of DePaso is incorporated by referencein its entirety.

Thus, there is a need for an elevating conveyor capable of transportingarticles, especially tires and solar panels, up steep inclines.Additionally, there is a need for an elevating conveyor capable oftransporting large tires, such as tractor trailer tires and tractortires, and solar panels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to a conveyorembodying features that address these needs.

Although many of the embodiments are focused on conveyors for tires, theinvention may be used in any application where articles are conveyed todifferent locations. For example, some embodiments are directed to aconveyor for tires while other embodiments are directed to conveyors forsolar panels, boxes, wheels, large spools, large rings, rubbercomponents, etc. Further, some embodiments are directed to a conveyorfor traditional car and/or SUV tires while other embodiments aredirected to a conveyor for tractor trailer (i.e., eighteen-wheelers,semi trucks, semi trailers, or semis) tires, tractor tires, and/or farmmachinery tires. Typically, the size and shape of the tire changesdepending upon the use of the tire. For example, tires for small carsand/or light trucks may range from about 24″ to about 32″ in diameter.Tires for a large trucks and/or semi trailers may range from about 32″to about 48″ in diameter. Tires for tractors or other farm machinery mayrange from about 32″ to about 74″ in diameter.

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a conveyor to movetires or articles up to different heights. The height and angle of theconveyor may be adjustable in some embodiments.

On a conventional tire inspection line, tires brought on a conveyor orlike equipment may be stopped at a midway point where information may beread from the barcode affixed to the tires. This is done to identify thetype and size of the tires being inspected and sort them into the tiresto be sent to the next process and elsewhere. Therefore, one aspect ofthe present invention is to provide a tire sorting apparatus capable ofreliably reading information from a tire identifier, such as a barcode,formed on the surface of a tire without damaging the tire.

It is also an aspect of the present invention to provide a conveyorsystem comprising a conveyor belt, support elements to support thearticles being conveyed, a support frame for the belt and to raise theconveyor belt upward, and a power source. The conveyor belt may includesections secured together, one or more pieces of belt material,strengthening mechanisms either below or between the one or more piecesof belt material to support the support elements, an upper surface, andan under surface. The power source may comprise electrical componentsand a motor. Note that the terms “cleat” and “support element” can beused interchangeably herein.

In some embodiments, the conveyor may be specially designed to movepassenger car and light truck tires upwardly at incline angles up to 60degrees. In other embodiments, the conveyor may be specially designed tomove semi truck and tractor tires upwardly at incline angles up to 60degrees.

In various embodiments, the features of the conveyor include: a 18″ wide2 ply rubber covered top belt sliding flat at 58 FPM, one or more 4″high urethane cleats bolted to the belt on approximately 60″ centers, acurved cleat pattern to fit tire contour, one up/stop/down switch at thebottom end, a 1 hp 115V 13 FLA electric motor with speed reducer mountedunder bottom end, a thermal overload motor protector, a rubber laggedconveyor belt drive pulley, a plain idler pulley with belt tensioner, ahigh strength steel tubing truss conveyor frame, and a base plate. Inadditional embodiments, the conveyor may include: an off switch at thetop end, a portable stand with casters to hold the top end at a fixedheight, a portable stand with casters with a hand-winch adjustable topend height, up/emergency and stop/down switches at both ends of theconveyor with UL listing, a 24″ wide belt for tractor trailer sizetires, a 6″ high single cleat for vertical tire lift installation,straight cleats for handling boxes, bags, and general merchandise, and asmooth or rough top belt for shallow inclines. In some embodiments, thewidth of the belt is larger than 24″ and in other embodiments the widthof the belt is less than 24″.

Advantages of a conveyor of one embodiment of the present inventioninclude: specially designed to move tractor trailer tires up theconveyor at incline angles up to 55 degrees, available 10 feet long andlonger in 1 foot increments, 24″ wide, 2 ply rubber covered top beltsliding flat at 58 FPM, 6″ high urethane cleats bolted to the belt onapproximately 60″ centers, a curved cleat pattern to fit tire contour,one up/stop/down switch at the bottom end, a 1½ hp 115V 18 FLA electricmotor with speed reducer mounted under bottom end, a thermal overloadmotor protector, all electrical prewired, a rubber lagged conveyor beltdrive pulley, a plain idler pulley with belt tensioner, a high strengthsteel tubing truss conveyor frame, and a base plate. To select theconveyor size, take the floor-to-floor vertical distance and add theoverhang desired, usually 2-3 feet. This sum equals the Total VerticalDistance (TVD). Use the table below as a guide for the conveyor lengthrequired. In some embodiments, the maximum recommended incline ofoperation is 60 degrees.

Total Floor to Floor Vertical Conveyor Vertical Recommended Distancelength required Distance Overhang (TVD) at a 55 degree incline 8 ft. + 2ft. = 10 ft. high 12 ft. long conveyor 10 ft. + 2 ft. = 12 ft. high 15ft. long conveyor 12 ft. + 2 ft. = 14 ft. high 17 ft. long conveyor 14ft. + 2 ft. = 16 ft. high 20 ft. long conveyor

In various embodiments, the cleats may be attached, secured, orinterconnected to the belt using a set of two bolts. Further, the boltsmay be ¼ ″×1¼ ″ #1 elevator bolts with hardware. The cleats may alsoinclude holes for the bolts or other interconnection mechanisms.

In some embodiments, the cleats may flip up when going up the conveyorand flip down when going down the back of the conveyor. In oneembodiment, the cleats may be hinged to the belt such that they can flipup and down. Other flip mechanisms may also be contemplated by oneskilled in the art. In some embodiments, the cleats are permanentlyattached to the belt. In other embodiments, the cleats are removable. Inone embodiment, the cleats are attached without the use of screws.

In some embodiments, the cleats may be flexible. Thus, each cleat may beconstructed entirely from an elastomeric material that providesflexibility. In one embodiment, the cleat or support element is flexiblealong the length of cleat such that when a tire or article is positionedon the conveyor belt, the two cleats bend in a direction opposite thedirection of belt travel along the conveying path. In other embodimentsthey may be rigid.

In various embodiments, the cleats or tire support elements have aunique shape to hold tires on a conveyor belt. Thus, the first andsecond tire support elements each has a front section having antire-supporting face that has a first curve that is curved along thetire support element's length and toward the direction of belt travel.The tire support element also has a back section with a second curvethat is curved along its length and in the direction of belt travel. Thesecond curve is typically greater than the first curve. Additionally,each of tire engaging support elements has a flat conveyor contactingsurface that engages the outer tire-conveying surface of the conveyorbelt. The support element may also have a top surface that is positionedat an angle relative to the flat conveyor contacting surface.

In various embodiments, the system may comprise one or more motors,which may be changed out to use motors having different powercapabilities. In further embodiments, the motor(s) may be detachable andremovable.

In some embodiments, the conveyor is foldable for storage flat on theground or flat against a wall. In other embodiments, the conveyor may befoldable and stored in the location of use. Therefore, when a user needsto use the conveyer, he or she just has to pull the conveyor down. Thepull-down and storage motion may be similar to a Murphy bed in someembodiments. Further, the conveyor may be pulled down from a specificrack or other storage area.

In some embodiments, the support elements or cleats are bolted onto thebelt. A gasket that can be rubber may also be used to increase thestrength of the interconnection. Additionally, bolting the cleats ontothe belts reduces the cost of the system.

In various embodiments, the conveyor may have rubber feet to help itstick to the ground/floor. The feet may be made of materials other thatrubber in alternate embodiments. Thus, the bottom of the conveyor maycontact the floor in one or more places depending on the embodiment. Inother embodiments, the conveyor may be positioned on a rail such thatthe conveyor can slide along the rail to different storage areas. Thus,in an embodiment, the conveyor moves along the rails in a similar manneras library ladders. One skilled in the art can image a rail systemsimilar to the rail systems described herein.

In various embodiments, the conveyor may include an endless conveyorbelt looped around rotating drive elements, such as sprockets, drums, orpulleys, which advance the conveyor belt in a direction of belt travelalong a conveying path. The endless conveyor belt may have an outer,article-conveying surface and an inner, drive surface engaged by thedrive elements. On a steeply inclined elevating portion of the conveyingpath, the articles are conveyed vertically or at a steep angle. Thearticles are maintained in position and blocked from sliding down theouter surface of the conveyor belt on the steeply inclined portion ofthe conveying path by support elements or cleats that extend outwardlyfrom the outer surface. The support elements are periodically spacedalong the length of the conveyor belt to form individual bins for thearticles. A steep incline for a given conveyor belt may be defined as aconveying path that is so steep that typical vibrations, jolts, orsurges cause conveyed articles supported on support elements to fallfrom the conveyor belt advancing along the incline. In variousembodiments, the conveyor may be inclined up to an angle of 60 degreesrelative to the horizontal plane.

In some embodiments, once the articles are conveyed up the incline, theymay be transferred to an outfeed conveyor for transport to downstreamfinishing stations or other storage sections. Further details ofexemplary slide-preventing cleats or pair of cleats may extend outwardlyfrom the outer, article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt. In anembodiment, the cleats may be integrally formed with the belts. Inanother embodiment, the cleats may be secured to a threaded insert inthe belt by a bolt or the like through a bore formed in a block of thecleat.

In some embodiments, the cleats are secured to the conveyor belt. Inother embodiments, the cleats are secured to a metal drive belt providedunder the conveyor belt. Thus, the conveyor belt may have apertures inthe belt such that the cleats can extend upwardly from the drive beltand above the conveyor belt. In alternative embodiments, the cleats aresecured to a metal (or other material) support within the conveyor belt(i.e., between two layers of the conveyor belt). The cleats may besecured or interconnected to a belt or other part of the conveyorthrough the use of screws, pins, rivets, bolts, nails, glue, adhesive,sewing, clamps, bonding, welding, or any other mechanism now known orlater conceived.

In various embodiments, the cleats are various sizes and shapesdepending on the tire or article to be conveyed. In one embodiment, theconveyor belt may include support elements or cleats of many differentsizes. The cleats may fold up in order to support an article to conveyor may fold down such that it does not inhibit or interfere with thearticles being conveyed. Thus, in this embodiment, the cleats that areof a size not currently being utilized are folded down such that theyare substantially flat against or within the belt. In other embodiments,the cleats that are of a size not currently being utilized may be foldedinto the center of the conveyor belt such that they do not interferewith the articles being conveyed.

In various embodiments, the conveyor belt may be a modular plasticconveyor belt constructed of a series of individual belt modules made ofa thermoplastic polymer, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, acetal, ora composite material, in an injection molding process. A threadedmetallic insert may be inserted into the module during or after moldingto serve as an attachment point for a support element. The details ofone such insert and its use are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,134,“Plastic Conveyor Belt Module with Embedded Fasteners,” which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Of course, othermethods may be used to fasten the support elements to the conveyor belt.

In some embodiments, the conveyor belt sections comprising cleats may beinterconnected to one another and to other similar belt sections withoutcleats in a side-by-side orientation and end-to-end by hinge rodsthrough hinge eyes to form an endless conveyor belt.

In one embodiment, the system may comprise two cleats that are spacedapart laterally across the width of the conveyor belt. The cleats mayhave article-supporting faces defining planes oblique to the directionof belt travel and intersecting at a point on the belt below or behindthe cleats on the steep incline. The two cleats provide two points ofsupport for round articles, such as tires, and the space between themallows debris or fluids to drop from the tire and off of the belt.

In one embodiment, the belt is replaced with rollers or a roller array.The rollers provide a low-friction, rolling restraining surface that isespecially useful with high-friction articles, such as tires. Further,the conveyor belt described as a plastic conveyor belt may be a flatbelt or a flat-top chain in other embodiments. Another embodiment of anelevating belt conveyor embodying features of the present invention mayinclude a roller array to prevent conveyed articles from falling off thebelt.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the conveyor and itsfeatures may vary depending upon the combination of elements in variousembodiments. In some embodiments, the cleats have a rounded shape suchthat the curve of the cleat matches the curve of the tire being conveyedor transported. Thus, the curve of the cleat is slightly larger than thecurve of the tire so that the tire will sit in and fit into the cleat.In still other embodiments, the cleat may have a different shape. Forexample, the cleat may not be curved. Rather, the cleat may be flat likea wall or tile. The cleat may also be shaped like a post or rod. Stillfurther, the cleat may be V-shaped or U-shaped and only one cleat may beused to support each tire or conveyed article.

In some embodiments, the cleat may only come up to the midpoint of theside of the tire. In other embodiments the height of the cleat isgreater than the height of the tire lying on its side, i.e., the widthof the tire. In still further embodiments, the height of the cleat issomewhere between the midpoint of tire's side height and the top of thetire's side when the tire is lying on its side.

In various embodiments, one cleat per tire or conveyed article may beused. In other embodiments, two cleats per tire or conveyed article maybe used. In other embodiments, 3 or more cleats per tire or conveyedarticle may be used. Additionally, in some embodiments one cleat may beused for one tire or conveyed article and two or more cleats may be usedfor another tire or article. Thus, the number of cleats could changethroughout the conveyor.

In still more embodiments, the position of the cleats may be varieddepending upon the shape and size of the tire or article conveyed. Forexample, the cleats may be spaced further apart and positioned at lessof an angle relative to horizontal if the radius of the tire is large,whereas the cleats may be positioned closer together and at a greaterangle relative to horizontal if the radius of the tire is small.

Although the invention has been described with application to tires, theinvention also finds application to transporting other articles. Forexample, boxes, solar panels, windows, construction equipment, car orautomobile components, tractor components, pallets of products, etc. maybe transported on the conveyors.

In some embodiments, the conveyor may be configured with a conveyorbelt, roller bars, and/or any other mechanism for moving tires. Theconveyor may be configured to be located at any height above a platformto facilitate access by a worker. In one embodiment, the conveyor may beconfigured about three feet above the platform. The conveyor may beconfigured to automatically move tires in one or more directions. Forexample, in one embodiment, the conveyor may be configured to move tiresfrom a placement station to any desired location, such as, for example,a tire loading system, a tire unloading system, a forklift, a railcar,and/or a tire rack. In another embodiment, the conveyor may beconfigured to move tires to/from a location such as, for example, a tireunloading system, a forklift, a railcar, a tire rack, a tire storagelocation or the like to/from the placement station for manual loading oftires into racks or storage areas in the tire load station.

In some embodiments of the conveyor system, humans may load articles ortires onto the conveyor (typically the bottom of the conveyor) andunload articles or tires off of the conveyor (typically the top of theconveyor) as a part of the system. In various embodiments, one or morepersons load the tires and a different one or more persons unload thetires or articles. In alternate embodiments, machines or robots may loadand unload the articles and tires. In additional embodiments acombination of humans, robots, and machines may be used to load andunload the articles or tires.

Lean manufacturing principles may be applied throughout embodiments ofthe invention to facilitate efficiency in tire loading, unloading,and/or storage. For example, in one embodiment, value stream mapping isused to analyze logistics data provided by a company to create Paretoanalysis to identify high volume, high turn-over tire SKUs (i.e., stockcontrol units). A manufacturing plant analysis is implemented todetermine the capacity and production rate of a given customer todetermine the size, capacity, number, and/or breadth of tire loading,unloading and/or storage needed to fulfill capacity and productiongoals. For example, for higher customer inventory levels,fully-automated loading, unloading and/or storage systems may bedesired. However, for lower inventory levels, customers may usepartially-automated loaders, unloaders, and/or storage systems tomaximize efficiency and lower overall costs.

In yet other embodiments, the systems and methods of the presentinvention are facilitated by one or more human and/or computerizedoperators. For example, an operator monitors robot loaders and/orunloaders, monitors system settings and/or identifies racks that requirereplacement or repair. Operators also drive forklifts, load/unloadtires, and/or the like to facilitate overall system usage.

One aspect of embodiments of the present invention is to provide asystem capable of handling all sizes of vehicle tires, providing maximumcompression of tires, and minimizing the manual labor required forloading, unloading, stacking, and/or storing the articles or tires.

In some embodiments of the system, tires are ricked or stacked in aherringbone pattern to facilitate compression and/or space management.The system and method also includes the stacking of tires in any othersuitable arrangement that would allow the transport rack to performsimilar functions. Moreover, the system and method may include anyvariation or angle of herringbone patterns that would allow thetransport rack to perform similar functions as disclosed herein.

As one with ordinary skill in the art appreciates, the proper alignmentof tires in the herringbone pattern depends upon the geometry of tiresbeing stacked. Thus, the system contemplates and accommodatesincorporation of an automated system for control of the loader system.The control system automatically senses tire geometry based on sensorslocated at an upstream position on the conveyor, or alternatively,accommodates the manual input of information. In both cases, however,the control system uses information that is indicative of tire geometry,such as outside diameter, inside diameter, and/or tread width, todetermine the rotation and translation of each tire to produce thedesired stacking pattern. With respect to herringbone stacking patterns,the relevant output variables may include the angle of deviation fromvertical associated therewith the axis of rotation of tires insuccessive rows as well as the number of tires in each row and thenumber of rows in each stack. Furthermore, the control system maydetermine the appropriate amount of compression to apply to the stackedload, and the corresponding number of rows in the stack, to avoidpermanent deformation of tires. The control system may consider avariety of factors in determining the appropriate compressive loads toapply. In one embodiment, these factors include the material propertiesand/or hardness of tires (usually rubber), tire geometry and stackedorientation, and the time and temperature environment to whichcompressed tires will be subjected. In addition, empirical data andexperience may be incorporated to optimize the control of the system.

As used herein, warehouse racks include any type of rack that isdistinct, including for example, pallets, racks such as thosemanufactured by Ohio Rack, Inc., or the like.

In some embodiments, the conveyor system may comprise one or morescanners to facilitate identifying each tire or article. For example, inone embodiment, the system comprises two scanners configured on bothsides of a two-lane conveyor. The scanners may be configured both aboveand below the conveyor and/or articles to facilitate reading thearticles' labels/SKUs. In alternate embodiments, the scanner may be abarcode scanner, a radio-frequency scanner, optical scanners, visionsystems and/or any other type of scanner for reading and/or identifyingtire or article labels and/or SKUs. The scanner may be configured with aCPU and/or any other computing system or unit. The scanner may also beconfigured to communicate with the rack loading system, conveyor, and/orany other part of the system or any other system described herein.Alternatively, RFID tags and readers may be used with the system.

In one embodiment, each tire on a conveyor and/or a warehouse storagearea is the same type, size, and/or SKU number, or may be designated forthe same destination or storage area. Tires may be delivered to storageareas and/or a warehouse rack on a conveyor. In additional oralternative embodiments, articles and tires may be delivered to storageareas and/or a warehouse rack on two or more conveyors. Further, thetire or article may be scanned and identified then loaded on to theappropriate conveyor for storage in the appropriate area. Thus, one typeof tire may be loaded onto one conveyor to be stored in a first area anda different type of tire or article may be loaded onto a second conveyorto be stored in a second area that is different from the first area.

In some embodiments, the conveyor system and the rack loading system mayalso be configured to stack tires or articles based upon identificationinformation received from the scanner. For example, in one embodiment,the rack loading system may be configured to receive tire identificationinformation from the scanner and to use the tire identificationinformation to determine what tire stacking configuration to use. Thatis, for smaller diameter tires, the rack loading system may stack tiresin layers of five tires, for example. For larger diameter tires, therack loading system may stack tires in layers of four tires, forexample.

In various embodiments, the one or more conveyors may elevate the tiresto a stop position in front of one or more position pick-and-placeloaders. The pick-and-place loaders may each comprise a support-mountedactuator system, each of which controls an extendable/retractable armthat is adapted to seize the tire or article from the conveyor.

In some embodiments, the system is configured to sort and queue tireshorizontally. For example, the system comprises one or more tiretransportation devices, such as, access conveyors that connect to one ormore sub-conveyors. In an embodiment, an access conveyor may move thetires from the main unloading conveyor to various sub-conveyors. Thesub-conveyors, in turn, may move tires to/from towers. Some conveyorsmay be configured to be computer-controlled devices to facilitatesorting, queuing and/or routing of the tires. In one embodiment, thetires are loaded randomly and scanners are used to sort, queue and/orroute the tires when they are unloaded from towers.

In another embodiment, some conveyors may be configured with one or morescanners to obtain tire identifying information to facilitate sortingand queuing the tires. The scanners may be configured like scanners andcommunicate with the conveyors to facilitate directing each SKU of tireto a different sub-conveyor for loading into a particular tower. Eachtower is configured to hold between 10 and 30 tires of a single SKU.

In one embodiment, a queuing system may comprise an inbound queue oftires or articles that have been unloaded from a trailer, railcar,forklift and/or other transportation mechanism. For example, a number oftires or articles are queued on each side of the queuing system.

In various embodiments, the system may also be configured with a controlpanel to facilitate worker operation of the conveyor. For example, theworker may use a panel to raise or lower the conveyor in order tofacilitate access to tires, storage areas, and racks. In anotherembodiment, a load station may be configured with one or more scannersor cameras to detect the height of rack, storage floor, storage area,tires, and the conveyors and raise or lower the conveyor based onwhether the height of the racks, tires, storage floor, storage area, orconveyor meets a predetermined height.

The scanner computing unit or any other computing unit used or describedherein may be connected with each other via a data communicationnetwork. The network may be a public network and assumed to be insecureand open to eavesdroppers. In the illustrated implementation, thenetwork is embodied as the Internet. In this context, the computers mayor may not be connected to the Internet at all times. For example, thecustomer computer may employ a modem to occasionally connect to theInternet, whereas the bank computing center might maintain a permanentconnection to the Internet. Specific information related to theprotocols, standards, and application software utilized in connectionwith the Internet may not be discussed herein. For further informationregarding such details, see, for example, Dilip Naik, “InternetStandards and Protocols” (1998); “Java 2 Complete,” various authors(Sybex 1999); Deborah Ray and Eric Ray, “Hosting HTML 4.0” (1997);Loshin, “TCP/IP Clearly Explained” (1997). All of these texts areincorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

It may be appreciated that many applications of the present inventionmay be formulated. One skilled in the art may appreciate that a networkmay include any system for exchanging data or transacting business, suchas the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, DSL, WAN, LAN, Ethernet,satellite communications, and/or the like. It is noted that the networkmay be implemented as other types of networks, such as an interactivetelevision (ITV) network. The users may interact with the system via anyinput device such as a keyboard, mouse, kiosk, smart phone, e-reader,tablet, laptop, Ultrabook™, personal digital assistant, handheldcomputer (e.g., Palm Pilot®), cellular phone, or the like. Similarly,embodiments of the invention could be used in conjunction with any typeof personal computer, network computer, workstation, minicomputer,mainframe, smart phone, etc. Moreover, although the invention isfrequently described herein as being implemented with TCP/IPcommunications protocols, it may be readily understood that theinvention may also be implemented using IPX, Appletalk, IP-6, NetBIOS,OSI or any number of existing or future protocols. Moreover, the presentinvention contemplates the use, sale or distribution of any goods,services or information over any network having similar functionalitydescribed herein.

In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, the InternetInformation Server, Microsoft Transaction Server, and Microsoft SQLServer, may be used in conjunction with the Microsoft operating system,Microsoft NT web server software, a Microsoft SQL database system, and aMicrosoft Commerce Server. Additionally, components such as Access orSQL Server, Oracle, Sybase, Informix MySQL, Interbase, etc., may be usedto provide an ADO-compliant database management system. The term“webpage” as it is used herein is not meant to limit the type ofdocuments and applications that might be used to interact with the user.For example, a typical website might include, in addition to standardHTML documents, various forms, Java applets, Javascript, active serverpages (ASP), common gateway interface scripts (CGI), extensible markuplanguage (XML), dynamic HTML, cascading style sheets (CSS), helperapplications, plug-ins, and/or the like.

A system user may interact with the system via any input device such as,a keypad, keyboard, mouse, kiosk, smart phone, e-reader, tablet, laptop,Ultrabook™, personal digital assistant, handheld computer (e.g., PalmPilot®, Blackberry®, iPhone®, iPad®, Android®), cellular phone, or thelike. Similarly, the invention could be used in conjunction with anytype of personal computer, network computer, work station, minicomputer,mainframe, smart phone, tablet, or the like running any operating systemsuch as any version of Windows, MacOS, iOS, OS/2, BeOS, Linux, UNIX,Solaris, MVS, tablet operating system, smart phone operating system, orthe like, including any future operating system or similar system.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a tire sorting apparatusthat includes a mounting means for mounting a tire in a planeperpendicular to the center axis of the tire, a tire grip means forgripping the inner periphery of the tire and positioning the center axisof the tire, an identifier reading means for reading a tireidentification marking formed on the surface of the tire, and a holdingmeans for holding the identifier reading means. The tire grip means mayfurther include three grip arms arranged at the vertexes of a trianglewithin a plane perpendicular to the center axis of the tire andextending in a direction parallel to the center axis of the tire and anarm opening and closing mechanism for opening the three grip armsconcentrically around the circle circumscribing the triangle. Theholding means may further include a holding unit for holding theidentifier reading means and a rotation drive unit for rotating theholding means around a rotating axis parallel to the center axis of thetire. And the center of the circumscribing circle is aligned with therotating axis of the holding unit.

Some embodiments of the system of the present invention may furtherinclude a tire inside diameter detecting means for detecting a tireinside diameter from positional data or travel distance data of thethree grip arms when the grip arms are gripping a tire. This allows notonly acquisition of information from a tire identifier of a tire butalso accurate measurement of the inside diameter of the tire. Hence, thepossibility of rechecking the information on the tire identifier mayfurther improve the accuracy of tire sorting.

Some embodiments of the system of the present invention may include arotation radius changing means for changing the distance between theidentifier reading means and the rotation axis of the holding unit and adetecting position control means for controlling the rotation radiuschanging means in such a manner as to move the identifier reading meansto the position of the tire identifier based on the data of the tireinside diameter detected by the tire inside diameter detecting means.Thus, the rotation radius of the identifier reading means may be changedaccording to the tire size. Therefore, information may be read from thetire identifier even when there is a change in tire size.

Additional embodiments of the system of the present invention mayprovide a tire sorting apparatus that has a mounting means having aplurality of rotating bodies rotating in contact with the lower surfaceof the tire and a through hole through which the three grip arms may beextended toward the inner periphery of the tire.

In some embodiments of the system, devices to help in the compression ofthe tire stacks may be included. Some tire stacking systems, however,continue to rely heavily upon manual labor to accomplish the stacking oftires. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,294 issued to Keller et al. onDec. 16, 1997, (“Keller I”) discloses an exemplary tire compressiondevice and U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,142 issued to Keller et al. on Oct. 6,1998, (“Keller II”) discloses another tire compression device intendedfor use with a forklift. Both Keller I and Keller II are incorporated byreference herein in their entireties. The Keller I and Keller II devicesallow a preset load to compress a stack of tires as the stack is loadedinto a truck trailer. Initially, the forklift elevates and supports thepreset load. Then, once tires are stacked beneath the elevated load, theforklift allows the load to be lowered against a stack of tires. As aresult, the load exerts a downward pressure on the stack of tires,thereby compressing the tires. Once the initial stack is compressed,additional uncompressed tires are loaded on top of the stack until thestack reaches the ceiling of the truck trailer. Then, the forks of theforklift are raised, partially releasing the pressure applied againstthe compressed portion of the stack and allowing it to expand, whilecompressing the previously uncompressed portion until the entire stackis equally compressed. This process is repeated, stack by stack, untilthe entire trailer is full of stacked, compressed tires. Other devicesexist that load tires into a truck trailer and similarly compress tireswithin the trailer. In each of these cases, tires are maintained incompression by the storage and/or transportation vessel itself. However,no assurance exists that the vessel was designed or is suitable tomaintain such loads. In fact, vessels are frequently damaged as a resultof such use.

Various embodiments of the present invention include an apparatus forloading a tire onto a rack. The apparatus includes an automated tireconveyor, one or more scanners, and one or more robots to pick the tiresoff of the conveyor. The system may additionally include an apparatusfor unloading a rack of tires, which includes a load station configuredwith a lift. The lift raises a rack of tires to a platform, where anunloader may manually or automatically move tires from the rack to aconveyor.

Further, some embodiments of the present invention include methods andsystems for sorting and unloading tires into a store or warehouse forstorage and sale as well. For example, the systems for sorting andunloading tires may include one or more automated conveyors, scanners,and storage structures. For example, in the sorting system, the scannermay read information off of incoming tires and communicate the tireinformation to a system of conveyors, which in turn directs each tire toa specific storage structure based upon the tire information (e.g.,size, type, etc.).

In various embodiments, drive-in storage may also be included in theconveyor system configured with one or more computing systems, such asthose described herein, to communicate with other loading or unloadingsystems of the system disclosed herein. For example, an unloading systemwithin the system disclosed herein may communicate with drive-in storagewhen a first rack, which is being unloaded, is all or partially-emptysuch that a second rack may be delivered from the drive-in storage tothe unloader. In another embodiment, an unloader or loader communicateswith the drive-in storage when daily customer orders show that there isadditional demand for a specific tire SKU (i.e., stock control unit).The rack may then be pulled from the drive-in-storage using, forexample, a pull system applying lean manufacturing principles.

In some embodiments, the conveyor system may also include a system forloading, sorting, or unloading tires. The system may be automated orcomputer controlled. The system may be used in a plant that manufacturestires, and sorts and stores tires coming off the assembly line, and thendispenses tires in a desired order for shipment. Further, the system mayalso be used for loading and unloading articles or tires at a finaldestination, such as a tire shop or warehouse, where tires may bestored.

One aspect of the invention is a method for conveying articles up steepinclines. In one embodiment, the method for conveying articles up steepinclines comprises: (a) conveying articles on the conveying surface ofan endless conveyor belt along a steep incline in a direction of belttravel; (b) blocking conveyed articles from sliding down the conveyingsurface of the conveyor belt on the steep incline; and (c) restrainingconveyed articles leaning away from the conveying surface with arestraining surface moving in the direction of belt travel to preventthe leaning articles from falling away from the conveying surface of theconveyor belt on the steep incline.

The present invention includes a method of packing tires that includesplacing one or more rows of tires against a bottom frame, adding anintermediate frame on top of the one or more rows of tires, compressingthe tires, and attaching a vertical member to the intermediate frame.The method additionally includes adding one or more additional rows oftires on top of the intermediate frame, adding a top frame, compressingthe one or more additional rows of tires, and attaching a verticalmember to the top frame.

By way of providing additional background, context, and to furthersatisfy the written description requirements of 35 U.S.C. §112, thefollowing references are incorporated by reference in their entiretiesfor the express purpose of explaining the nature of conveyors and tofurther describe the various tools, pieces, and other apparatusescommonly associated therewith:

U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2012/0325903 to Takahashi describes a tire sortingapparatus for reliably reading information from a tire identifier, suchas a barcode, formed on the surface of a tire without damaging the tire.Placed under a tire-mounting table is a tire grip that has three griparms arranged circularly in a plane perpendicular to the tire centeraxis and link mechanisms for spreading the grip arms. Placed above themounting table is a barcode reader rotating means for rotating a barcodereader held by a barcode reader holder. The rotation axis of the barcodereader is aligned with the center of the circle formed by the grip armsof the tire grip.

U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2009/0148260 to Leimbach et al., which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a tireloading apparatus and method of packing tires that includes placing thetires in a rack, compressing the tires, and assembling the rack. Theapparatus includes one or more conveyors, scanners, and robots that loadtires from a conveyor to a rack. A tire unloading apparatus is alsodisclosed. The unloading apparatus includes a scissor mechanism to riseand lower tire racks to an unloading platform. The unloading apparatusadditionally includes one or more unloaders and conveyors. The sortingand unloading of tires is accomplished with one or more automatedconveyors, scanners, and storage structures for reading information fromincoming tires and using the tire information to sort and store thetires. A rack to improve compression and support of tires during storageand shipment is also disclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,499, issued to Leimbach, et al. on Mar. 4, 2003,(“Leimbach”) discloses an example of a tire loading system. Theunloading system and method described herein may include features orsteps (which may be in any order) described in Leimbach, which isincorporated by reference in its entirety.

U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2010/0043952 to Terazono discloses bead core and abead filler and is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2012/0092149 to Fujisawa discloses an inspectionapparatus arranged with a plurality of cameras located at relativelydisplaced circumferential positions and set for the respective shootingpositions different from each other in the axial direction of the tire.Thus the images of the inner circumferential surface of the tire areshot by the plurality of cameras as the tire is rotatedcircumferentially relative to the plurality of cameras. Fujisawa isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2011/0013177 to Crim discloses an apparatus andmethod for verifying a laser etch on a rubber sample. In one embodiment,the apparatus includes a tire production line, a sample holding device,a laser having a diode, and a servo-assembly. The laser of the apparatusis configured to etch indicia on a sidewall of a tire on the tireproduction line and is further configured to etch at least one line in arubber sample on the sample holding device. Crim is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,496, issued to Kunitake, et al. on Jul. 31, 2007,(“Kunitake”) discloses an uniformity inspection line with adecision-only line having first UF machines exclusive for themeasurement of the uniformity of a tire sorted and distributed on anautomatic sorting line and a correction-only line having second UFmachines for the correction and re-measurement of the uniformitycharacteristics of a tire having uniformity characteristics outsidespecific values measured on the above decision-only line. Kunitake isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,340,946, issued to Gotou, et al. on Mar. 11, 2008, andU.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2007/0084275 to Gotou, et al. disclose a method and adevice for inspecting a tire, the method comprising the steps of, in arim assembly station separated from an inspection station having a tireinspector installed thereon, forming a rim/tire assembly in a setup byassembling one side and the other side rims and with an inspected tireand, when an inspection is performed, transforming the rim/tire assemblyfrom the rim assembly station to the tire inspector on the inspectionstation, whereby a preparatory operation time in the tire inspector canbe shortened to shorten a cycle time. The Gotou patent and Gotoupublication are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,487,814, issued to Mizota on Feb. 10, 2009, discloses anobject to provide a tire reinforcing layer forming device which canform, by a single device, plural reinforcing layers whose corddirections intersect one another. A reinforcing material piece, which isdistributed to an upper conveying path, is affixed from a left end sideof a drum toward a right side, while the drum is rotated in a directionof arrow CW. Mizota is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,347,317, issued to Aizawa, et al. on Mar. 25, 2008,discloses methods and devices for measuring elongation, wear, andinternal temperature of a conveyor belt to catch signs of conveyor beltfailure such as breakage by detecting a magnetic field from a magneticbody by using a magnesium sensor, as well as a rubber magnet sheet as amagnetic body and a method of producing the sheet, the rubber magnetsheet being able to be used while it is embedded in the conveyor belt.Aizawa is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. U.S. Pat.No. 7,543,698, issued to Haskell on Jun. 9, 2009, and discloses anarticle elevator for moving lightweight open ended containers from afirst level to a second level vertically spaced from the first level andis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The articleelevator includes an input section at the first level for receivingcontainer bodies. An elevator section is positioned for receivingcontainer bodies from the input section. A discharge section is locatedat the second level for receiving container bodies from the elevatorsection. A plurality of arms is movably mounted above the input section,the elevator section, and the discharge section. Each of the arms movesa group of container bodies from the input section over the elevatorsection to the discharge section so that successive groups of containerbodies are moved to the discharge section from the input section.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,910,405, issued to Couperus, et al. on Oct. 7, 1975, anddiscloses a belt elevator for elevating loose bulk material from onelevel to another. The belt elevator comprises a pair of cooperatingendless belt conveyors whose forward runs are juxtaposed to face oneanother with an edge of one in sealing engagement with the other, thematerial being retained therebetween. A first belt conveyor is providedwith raised edges which engage and seal with the edges of the other. Thefirst conveyor is also provided with generally evenly spacedtransversely positioned cleats or raised portions which, together withthe raised edges, forms pockets to contain material being elevated. Thestiffness of the first belt conveyor is greater than that of the secondbelt conveyor. The second belt conveyor is troughed at the entry portionfor receiving the material to be elevated which material is dischargedfrom the first belt conveyor at a discharge point at the higher level.The belts are maintained in tension to insure edge engagement and theretention of material therebetween. Couperus is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

Receiving hoppers and varying numbers of cleats may be used to conveyloose material such as dirt, stones, etc. Additionally, the cleats maybe about 20 to 30 inches apart in the direction of belt travel, orpreferably 24 inches apart. In an alternate embodiment, the cleats maybe about 50 to 70 inches apart in the direction of belt travel, orpreferably 60 inches apart. If an article is conveyed, the cleats may bespaced apart between about 1.25 and about 1.75 times the length of thearticle conveyed, or more preferably about 1.5 times the length of thearticle conveyed.

The conveyor may include handles and a dolly with wheels to promotemovability of the conveyor. The handles can be any size, shape, ormaterial known in the art. For example, the handles may be metal ormetal with rubber coatings. The handles may be bar-like, round, orsquare. The dolly can contain one or more wheels and will have at leastone leg or axel.

Different numbers of cleats or support elements can be used together toconvey an article. Typically, the taller the cleat is, the fewer cleatsneed to be used. For example, one tall (6 inch) cleat can be used toconvey an article, where as two or three short (1.25 inch) cleats may beneeded to convey an article.

U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2007/0135960, to Shibao et al., discloses aproduction evaluation managing system in a factory including facilitiesin a plurality of production processes from materials to products and ameans for evaluating the products based on at least one of inspectionand testing characterized by comprising a network connecting thefacilities in respective production processes with the evaluating means,and a means for collecting through the network field data of thefacility in a production process pertaining to the production of aproduct corresponding to the information of evaluation results, based onthe information of evaluation results of the products outputted from theevaluating means. By this, when a nonconformity is found from theinformation of evaluation results based on at least one of inspectionand testing of the product, field data of the facility in a productionprocess pertaining to production of a product corresponding to theinformation of evaluation results can be collected and analyzedimmediately and the problem with the production process can beinvestigated immediately in a short time. Shibao is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2007/0289847 to Nakamura is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety and discloses a rubber member conveying deviceand a rubber member supplying system. The device and the system rapidlypromote the shrinkage of the rubber member, thereby avoiding the lengthvariation of the rubber member in the processing step for the rubbermember. A rubber member supplying system comprises a belt conveyor whichsupplies a to-be-cut material having an internal strain, a cutter whichcuts the to-be-cut material supplied by the belt conveyor to form arubber member, and a rubber member conveying part which conveys therubber members. The rubber member conveying part comprises an endlessbelt, and rollers supported by supporting parts that are provided at theendless belt. The rubber member is conveyed on the rollers while exposedto vibrations. Accordingly, the shrinkage in the rubber member caused bythe internal strain thereof is substantially completed in the conveyingoperation.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,461, issued to Silverthorn, et al. on Aug. 13, 1985,and discloses a conveyor construction for conveying materials, such asgrain, to an elevated location. The conveyor construction comprises abase or supporting structure and an auger conveyor is mountedhorizontally on the base. Grain is fed into a hopper at one end of theauger and the discharge end of the auger is provided with a pair ofkicker paddles which propel the grain laterally into the lower end of avertical endless belt conveyor. The endless belt conveyor includes aplurality of integrally molded cleats that convey the grain upwardlywithin a vertical passage in the conveyor housing and the grain isdischarged from the upper end of the housing. The vertical conveyor ismounted for pivoting movement relative to the auger conveyor to adjustthe angularity of the vertical conveyor. Silverthorn is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,419, issued to Yamada, et al. on Feb. 23, 1988, andis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Yamada discloses asystem in case of detecting tire information marks engraved in a sidewall portion of tire in the form of protrusion or recess, width andinner diameter of tire are detected to provide a tire size signal, aftera first camera head is driven into a given position in accordance withthe tire side signal, an identification mark engraved in the size wallportion of tire is optically detected by the first camera head to derivea position signal, and after a second camera head is driven into a givenposition in accordance with the position signal, the tire informationmarks are optically detected by the second camera head to derive a tireinformation signal. In this manner, the tire information marks can bedetected in a rapid and accurate manner.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,078, issued to Mizuno, et al. on Oct. 13, 1987, anddiscloses a method and system for detecting tire information marks. Tireinformation marks for denoting tire kind, tire size, etc. formed in asurface of side wall of a tire as a protrusion or groove having atriangular cross section are optically detected by illuminating thesurface of side wall of the tire from a first direction substantiallyperpendicular to the surface of the side wall of the tire and a seconddirection inclined with respect to the surface of the side wall of thetire, and picking up an image of the surface of the side wall of thetire thus illuminated from the two different directions to derive animage signal. The image signal thus derived is converted into a bivalentsignal, and is thinned to produce a mark pattern. Then the mark patternis compared with a thick standard mark pattern. When a substantial partof the detected mark pattern is included in the standard mark pattern,the detected mark pattern is recognized to be identical with thestandard mark pattern. Mizuno is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,946, issued to Okuyama, et al. on Mar. 3, 1992, U.S.Pat. No. 5,415,217, issued to Okuyama, et al. on May 16, 1995, and U.S.Pat. No. 5,194,107, issued to Okuyama, et al. on Mar. 16, 1993. TheOkuyama patents disclose a method and an apparatus for sticking abelt-like member, wherein a belt-like member prepared by cutting a rawmaterial of the belt-like member on a conveyor at two front and rearlocations, is conveyed by the conveyor, wrapped around a cylindricaldrum and stuck to the drum. The inclination angle of the cut line at theleading end of the belt-like member is measured at the time of cutting,the inclination angle of the cut line at the trailing end is measured atthe time of cutting, and by comparing the inclination of the cut line atthe trailing end with the inclination angle at the leading end, anamount of connection for the inclination angle is calculated. The threeOkuyama patents are incorporated by reference herein in theirentireties.

In one embodiment, the conveyor comprises an endless conveyor belthaving an outer article-conveying surface. The conveyor belt advances ina direction of belt travel along a conveying path that includes asteeply inclined portion. The conveying belt also includes supportelements that extend outward from the outer article-conveying surface ofthe conveyor belt at periodically spaced positions and retention meansare disposed along the steeply inclined portion proximate the supportelements prevent conveyed articles from falling away from the conveyorbelt on the steeply inclined portion.

In various embodiments, the conveyor system comprises an endlessconveyor belt having an outer article-conveying surface. The conveyorbelt advances in a direction of belt travel along a conveying path thatincludes a steeply inclined portion. The conveying belt further includessupport elements that extend outward from the outer article-conveyingsurface of the conveyor belt. An article-restraining surface facing thearticle-conveying surface of the conveyor belt is positioned outward ofthe support elements across gaps along the steeply inclined portion ofthe conveying path. The article-restraining surface engages outwardlyleaning conveyed articles moving upward on the steeply inclined portionof the conveying path in low-friction contact. The article-restrainingsurface may be the outer surface of a belt advancing in the direction ofbelt travel or the outer surfaces of an array of rollers rotating in thedirection of belt travel on contact with outwardly leaning conveyedarticles.

In one embodiment, the conveyor for conveying articles up inclinescomprises: an endless conveyor belt having an outer article-conveyingsurface and advancing in a direction of belt travel along a conveyingpath including an inclined portion; a plurality of support elementsextending outwardly from the outer article-conveying surface of theconveyor belt and spaced apart at an increment approximately equal toabout 1.5 times a length of the article conveyed, where the plurality ofsupport elements comprises pairs of two support elements and eachsupport element in the pair is positioned proximate to the other supportelement in the pair and with a space between the two support elements,where each support element comprises: curved section having anarticle-supporting face, which is curved at a first radius of curvatureand is positioned in the direction of belt travel, and a back sideopposite the article-supporting face, the back side is curved with asecond radius of curvature, where the first radius of curvature issmaller than the second radius of curvature; a block-like bottom sectionwith a flat bottom that engages the outer article-conveying surface ofthe conveyor belt; and a top opposite the bottom, where the top ispositioned at an angle relative to the flat bottom; two securingmechanisms for each support element to secure the support elements onthe conveyor belt; a support frame with a support stand positionedproximate to a floor surface and support bars; a drive pulleyinterconnected to the support frame and positioned at the bottom of thesupport frame, where an underside of the conveyor belt engages an outersurface of the drive pulley; a tail pulley interconnected to the supportframe and positioned at the top of the support frame, where an undersideof the conveyor belt engages an outer surface of the tail pulley; and amotor for moving the conveyor belt around the drive pulley and tailpulley.

In a further embodiment, a first support element in one pair of supportelements has an article-supporting face defining a first plane obliqueto the direction of belt travel and a second support element in the pairof support elements has an article-supporting face defining a secondplane oblique to the direction of belt travel. The first plane and thesecond plane intersect at a point on the conveyor belt below the firstsupport element and the second support element. In another embodiment,the support elements are contoured in shape to mate with the conveyedarticle. In one embodiment, the support elements are made of anelastomeric material that conforms to the shape of a conveyed article onthe inclined portion of the conveying path. In additional embodiments,the conveyor further comprising a retention mechanism for preventing theconveyed articles from falling off of the conveyor belt, said retentionmechanism positioned along the inclined portion of the conveying path.The conveyor may alternatively comprise an article-restraining surfacepositioned above and facing the article-conveying surface of theconveyor belt, where the article-restraining surface is spaced away fromthe support elements, and where the article-restraining surface engagesoutwardly leaning conveyed articles moving upward on the inclinedportion of the conveying path in low-friction contact. In oneembodiment, the inclined portion of the conveying path is approximately60 degrees as measured from a horizontal plane.

One embodiment of a tire conveyor for conveying tires up an inclinecomprises: an endless conveyor belt having a lateral extent and alongitudinal extent, and an outer tire-conveying surface that isdesigned to advance in a direction of belt travel along a conveying pathincluding an inclined portion; a first pair of first and second tiresupport elements, with each of said first and second tire supportelement having a same width (w), length (l) and height (h), with saidfirst tire support element spaced a distance along said lateral extentof said conveyor belt from said second tire support element by at leasttwice the width, where said pair of first and second tire supportelements are each interconnected to said outer tire-conveying surface bytwo independent fasteners that penetrate through said outertire-conveying surface, said first tire support element being fastenedto said outer tire-conveying surface at a first angle with respect tosaid lateral extent of said conveyor belt, and said second tire supportelement being fastened to said outer tire-conveying surface at a secondangle with respect to said lateral extent of said conveyor belt, saidfirst angle and said second angle being commensurate and opposite eachother, where when a tire is placed in contact with said first and secondtire support elements, the first tire support element is between a 4o'clock and 5 o'clock position of the tire and the second tire supportelement is between a 7 o'clock and 8 o'clock position of the tire, whereeach of said first and second tire support elements has a front sectionhaving an tire-supporting face that has a first curve that is curvedalong its length and toward the direction of belt travel and a backsection that has a second curve that is curved along its length and inthe direction of belt travel, said second curve being greater than saidfirst curve, each of said pair of tire engaging support elements havinga flat conveyor contacting surface that engages the outer tire-conveyingsurface of the conveyor belt, each of said tire support elementsconstructed entirely from an elastomeric material that providesflexibility along said length of said tire support elements such thatwhen a tire is positioned on said conveyor belt, said first and secondtire support elements bend in a direction opposite the direction of belttravel along a conveying path; a second pair of first and second tiresupport elements spaced apart from said first pair of tire supportelements by at least a distance of 1.5 times a length of a tire conveyedon said conveyor belt; a support frame with a support stand, saidsupport frame having two, longitudinally extending side bar supportsextending parallel to each other and connected to each other by aplurality of support struts; a drive pulley operably connected to saidsupport frame that engages said conveyor belt; a tail pulley operablyconnected to said support frame that engages said conveyor belt; and amotor operably connected to said drive pulley.

The tire conveyor may further comprise a tire-restraining mechanisminterconnected to the support frame and positioned above and facing thetire-conveying surface of the conveyor belt, where the tire-restrainingmechanism comprises at least one bar arranged in the direction of belttravel and at least two bars positioned perpendicular to the directionof belt travel, where the tire-restraining surface is spaced away fromthe support elements, and where the tire-restraining surface engagesoutwardly leaning conveyed tires moving upward on the inclined portionof the conveying path. In some embodiments, the tire conveyor comprisesan array of rollers having outer surfaces forming the tire-restrainingsurface facing the tire-conveying surface, where the rollers arearranged to rotate in the direction of belt travel on contact withoutwardly leaning conveyed tires. In additional embodiments, the tireconveyor further comprises a tire sorting apparatus comprising: a mount,where the mount positions a tire in a plane perpendicular to the centeraxis of the tire; a tire grip, where the tire grip grips the innerperiphery of the tire and positions the center axis of the tire; an IDreader, where the ID reader reads a tire identification marking formedon the surface of the tire; and a holder, where the holder holds the IDreader, where the tire grip further includes three grip arms arranged atthe vertexes of a triangle within a plane perpendicular to the centeraxis of the tire, where the holder further includes a holding unit forholding the ID reader, and a rotation drive unit for rotating the holderaround a rotation axis parallel to the center axis of the tire, andwhere the center of the circumscribing circle is aligned with therotation axis of the holding unit. Still further, the conveyor maycomprise an apparatus for loading the tire onto a rack, the apparatuscomprising: a first scanner configured to provide information regardingsaid tire; a tire conveyor configured to transport said tire; a robotconfigured to automatically move the tire from the tire conveyor ontothe rack; and a computer configured to control the robot using theinformation from the first scanner.

In one embodiment, the conveyor for conveying articles up inclinescomprises: an endless conveyor belt having an outer article-conveyingsurface and advancing in a direction of belt travel along a conveyingpath including an inclined portion; a plurality of support elementsextending outwardly from the outer article-conveying surface of theconveyor belt and spaced apart at a predetermined distance, wherein theplurality of support elements comprises groups of two or more supportelements and each support element in the group is positioned proximateto the other support elements in the group and with a space between eachsupport element in the group, wherein each support element comprises: aupright section having an upper portion and an article-supporting facegenerally positioned in the direction of belt travel; a block-likebottom section with at least one hole and a curved bottom having a firstradius of curvature, wherein the curved bottom engages the outerarticle-conveying surface of the conveyor belt; and a top positioned atthe upper portion of the upright section and opposite the bottom,wherein the top has a curved surface having a second radius ofcurvature, wherein the second radius of curvature is different than thefirst radius of curvature; at least one securing mechanism for eachsupport element to secure the support elements on the conveyor belt,wherein a portion of the securing mechanism is positioned in the hole ofthe block-like bottom section of the support element; a gasketpositioned between a bottom portion of the securing mechanism and theconveyor belt; a support frame with a support stand positioned proximateto a floor surface and support bars; a drive pulley interconnected tothe support frame and positioned at the bottom of the support frame,wherein an underside of the conveyor belt engages an outer surface ofthe drive pulley; and a tail pulley interconnected to the support frameand positioned at the top of the support frame, wherein an underside ofthe conveyor belt engages an outer surface of the tail pulley.

In further embodiments of the conveyor, the conveyor includes a motorfor moving the conveyor belt around the drive pulley and tail pulley.Additionally, the predetermined distance is approximately equal tobetween about 1.25 and 1.75 times a length of the article conveyed. Insome embodiments, the article is a loose material that is granularbased. Further, the predetermined distance is approximately equal tobetween about 50 inches and 70 inches. In one embodiment, thearticle-supporting face of the support elements is curved at a thirdradius of curvature, wherein the upright section further comprises aback side opposite the article-supporting face, said back side is curvedwith a fourth radius of curvature, and wherein the third radius ofcurvature is smaller than the fourth radius of curvature. In someembodiments, a first support element in the two or more support elementshas an article-supporting face defining a first plane oblique to thedirection of belt travel and a second support element in the two or moresupport elements has an article-supporting face defining a second planeoblique to the direction of belt travel, wherein the first plane and thesecond plane intersect at a point on the conveyor belt below the firstsupport element and the second support element. In additionalembodiments, a third support element in the two or more support elementshas an article-supporting face defining a third plane substantiallyperpendicular to the direction of belt travel. In alternativeembodiments, the support elements are made of an elastomeric materialthat conforms to the shape of a conveyed article on the inclined portionof the conveying path.

In one embodiment of a conveyor for conveying articles up inclines, theconveyor comprises: an endless conveyor belt having an outerarticle-conveying surface and advancing in a direction of belt travelalong a conveying path including an inclined portion; a plurality ofsupport elements extending outwardly from the outer article-conveyingsurface of the conveyor belt and spaced apart at least a distancebetween about 1.25 and 1.75 times a length of the article conveyed onsaid conveyor belt, wherein each support element comprises: a uprightsection having an upper portion and an article-supporting face generallypositioned in the direction of belt travel; a block-like bottom sectionwith at least one hole and a curved bottom having a first radius ofcurvature, wherein the curved bottom engages the outer article-conveyingsurface of the conveyor belt; and a top positioned at the upper portionof the upright section and opposite the bottom, wherein the top has acurved surface having a second radius of curvature, wherein the secondradius of curvature is different than the first radius of curvature; atleast one securing mechanism for each support element to secure thesupport elements on the conveyor belt, wherein a portion of the securingmechanism is positioned in the hole of the block-like bottom section ofthe support element; a gasket positioned between a bottom portion of thesecuring mechanism and the conveyor belt; a support frame with a supportstand positioned proximate to a floor surface and support bars; one ormore handles extending outwardly from at least one of a lower portion ofthe support frame and an upper portion of the support frame; a drivepulley interconnected to the support frame and positioned at the bottomof the support frame, wherein an underside of the conveyor belt engagesan outer surface of the drive pulley; and a tail pulley interconnectedto the support frame and positioned at the top of the support frame,wherein an underside of the conveyor belt engages an outer surface ofthe tail pulley.

In additional embodiments, the inclined portion of the conveying path isapproximately 60 degrees as measured from a horizontal plane.Additionally, the plurality of support elements comprises a firstsupport element extending horizontally across the belt and perpendicularto the direction of belt travel and spaced apart from a second supportelement extending horizontally across the belt and perpendicular to thedirection of belt travel. In some embodiments, the conveyor furthercomprises a receiving hopper at a lower portion of the conveyor, thereceiving hopper comprising at least three sides forming a funnel-likeshape. In one embodiment, the plurality of support elements are made ofan elastomeric material that conforms to the shape of a conveyed articleon the inclined portion of the conveying path.

One embodiment of a method for conveying articles up steep inclines isprovided, the method comprising: providing a conveyor for conveyingarticles up an incline, said conveyor comprising: an endless conveyorbelt having a lateral extent and a longitudinal extent, and an outerarticle-conveying surface that is designed to advance in a direction ofbelt travel along a conveying path including an inclined portion; aplurality of support elements, with each support element having a samewidth (w), length (l), and height (h), where each support element ofsaid plurality of support elements is interconnected to said outerconveying surface by two independent fasteners that penetrate throughsaid outer article-conveying surface, where each of said supportelements has a front section having an article-supporting face thatoriented in the direction of belt travel, each of said support elementshaving a flat conveyor contacting surface that engages the outerarticle-conveying surface of the conveyor belt, each of said supportelements constructed of urethane material that provides strength alongthe supporting elements such that when a conveyed article is positionedon said conveyor belt, said first and second supporting elements, wherea second support element in the plurality of support elements is spacedapart from a first support element in the plurality of support elementsby at least a distance of 1.5 times a length of an article conveyed onsaid conveyor belt; a support frame with a support stand, said supportframe having two, longitudinally extending side bar supports extendingparallel to each other and connected to each other by a plurality ofsupport struts; a drive pulley operably connected to said support framethat engages said conveyor belt; a tail pulley operably connected tosaid support frame that engages said conveyor belt; and a motor operablyconnected to said drive pulley; moving said endless conveyor belt in thedirection of belt travel using the motor, the drive pulley, and the tailpulley; conveying articles on the outer article-conveying surface of theconveyor belt; advancing the conveyed articles in the direction of belttravel along a conveying path including the inclined portion; blockingconveyed articles from sliding down the conveying surface of theconveyor belt on the inclined portion by using said plurality of supportelements; and removing the conveyed articles from the conveyor belt.

The method may, in some embodiments, further comprise sorting theconveyed articles using a sorting apparatus; and depending on thesorting step, loading a first type of conveyed article onto the conveyorbelt. Additionally, the method comprises a method of unloading conveyedarticles from a rack, the method comprising: moving the conveyedarticles from the rack to the sorting apparatus; reading identificationinformation on the conveyed articles using a computer-controlled visionsystem; removing the conveyed articles from the conveyor belt using arobot, where the identification information facilitates control of thesecond robot; and placing the conveyed articles in one of a loader and astorage structure.

In one embodiment of a method for conveying articles up steep inclines,the method comprises: providing a conveyor for conveying articles up anincline, said conveyor comprising: an endless conveyor belt having alateral extent and a longitudinal extent, and an outer article-conveyingsurface that is designed to advance in a direction of belt travel alonga conveying path including an inclined portion; a plurality of supportelements, with each support element having a same width (w), length (l),and height (h), wherein each support element of said plurality ofsupport elements is interconnected to said outer conveying surface bytwo independent fasteners that penetrate through said outerarticle-conveying surface, wherein each of said support elements has afront section having an article-supporting face that is oriented in thedirection of belt travel, each of said support elements having aconveyor contacting surface that engages the outer article-conveyingsurface of the conveyor belt, each of said support elements constructedof urethane material that provides strength along the supportingelements, wherein a second support element in the plurality of supportelements is spaced apart from a first support element in the pluralityof support elements by a predetermined distance; a support frame with asupport stand, said support frame having two, longitudinally extendingside bar supports extending parallel to each other and connected to eachother by a plurality of support struts; at least one handle extendingfrom a lower portion of said support frame; at least one handleextending from an upper portion of said support frame; at least onepulley operably connected to said support frame that engages saidconveyor belt; a motor operably connected to said at least one pulley;moving said endless conveyor belt in the direction of belt travel usingthe motor, the drive pulley, and the tail pulley; conveying articles onthe outer article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt; advancing theconveyed articles in the direction of belt travel along a conveying pathincluding the inclined portion; blocking conveyed articles from slidingdown the conveying surface of the conveyor belt on the inclined portionby using said plurality of support elements; and removing the conveyedarticles from the conveyor belt.

In further embodiments, the predetermined distance is between about 1.25and 1.75 times a length of an article conveyed on said conveyor belt.The method can further comprise sorting the conveyed articles using asorting apparatus; and depending on the sorting step, loading a firsttype of conveyed article onto the conveyor belt. Additionally, themethod can include moving the conveyed articles from the rack to thesorting apparatus; reading identification information on the conveyedarticles using a computer-controlled vision system; removing theconveyed articles from the conveyor belt using a robot, wherein theidentification information facilitates control of the second robot; andplacing the conveyed articles in one of a loader and a storagestructure. In some embodiments, the conveyor contacting surface of saidsupport elements has a curved shape with a first radius of curvature. Inone embodiment, the conveyed articles are tires.

While various configurations of the conveyor are herein specified, thisdescription is only exemplary and is not intended to limit or otherwisenarrow the invention. The conveyor may include any number of componentsin any potential combination thereof as desired for achieving thedesired function for desired article shape and size and incline.

One or ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that embodiments of thepresent invention may be constructed of materials known to provide, orpredictably manufactured to provide the various aspects of the presentinvention. For example, materials used in the support structure of theconveyor may include, for example, metal, composites, plastics, andother synthetic and natural materials. Further, the belt of the conveyormay be comprised of rubber, latex, synthetic rubber, syntheticmaterials, polymers, and natural materials.

As used herein, the term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more ofthat entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “atleast one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be notedthat the terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” can be usedinterchangeably.

As used herein, “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or” areopen-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive inoperation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, Band C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “oneor more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, Calone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B andC together.

The phrases “device”, “apparatus”, “conveyor”, “conveyor apparatus”, and“conveyor device” are used herein to indicate the invention device.

The phrase “removably attached”, “removable”, and/or “detachable” isused herein to indicate an attachment or connection of any sort that isreadily releasable or disconnected.

This Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it beconstrued as being representative of the full extent and scope of thepresent invention. The present invention is set forth in various levelsof detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as in the attacheddrawings and the Detailed Description, and no limitation as to the scopeof the present invention is intended by either the inclusion ornon-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this Summary of theInvention. Additional aspects of the present invention will become morereadily apparent from the Detailed Description, particularly when takentogether with the drawings.

The above-described benefits, embodiments, and/or characterizations arenot necessarily complete or exhaustive, and in particular, as to thepatentable subject matter disclosed herein. Other benefits, embodiments,and/or characterizations of the present disclosure are possibleutilizing, alone or in combination, as set forth above and/or describedin the accompanying figures and/or in the description herein below.However, the Detailed Description, the drawing figures, and the claimsset forth herein, taken in conjunction with this Summary of theInvention, define the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Those of skill in the art will recognize that the following descriptionis merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, which may beapplied in various ways to provide many different alternativeembodiments. This description is made for illustrating the generalprinciples of the teachings of this invention and is not meant to limitthe inventive concepts disclosed herein.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the general description of the disclosure given above andthe Detailed Description of the drawings given below, serve to explainthe principles of the disclosures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tire conveyor;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a moveable elevatingbelt conveyor;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a conveyor;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the lower end of the conveyor shown inFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the upper end of the embodiment of theconveyor shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the embodiment of the conveyor shown inFIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a section of a belt with cleats;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a vertical conveyor;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of two curved cleats;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an elevating beltconveyor conveying tires;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an elevating beltconveyor conveying panels;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an elevating conveyor;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a system of multipleelevating conveyors;

FIG. 14A is a top elevation view of an embodiment of cleats on aconveyor;

FIG. 14B is a top elevation view of a second embodiment of cleats on aconveyor;

FIG. 14C is a top elevation view of a third embodiment of cleats on aconveyor;

FIG. 15 shows a portion of a conveyor belt with cleats;

FIG. 16 shows a portion of a conveyor belt with a cleat;

FIGS. 17A-D show various views of a fourth embodiment of a cleat;

FIG. 18 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of a conveyor;

FIG. 19 shows a portion of a conveyor belt with cleats;

FIGS. 20A-D show various views of a fifth embodiment of a cleat

FIGS. 21A-D show various views of a sixth embodiment of a cleat

FIGS. 22A-D show various views of a seventh embodiment of a cleat

FIGS. 23A-D show various views of a eighth embodiment of a cleat

FIGS. 24A-D show various views of a ninth embodiment of a cleat

FIGS. 25A-D show various views of a tenth embodiment of a cleat

FIG. 26 shows a person moving one embodiment of the conveyor;

FIG. 27 shows a dolly for interconnection to and use with a conveyorsystem;

FIG. 28 is a side view of two conveyors interconnected to one another;

FIG. 29 is a second embodiment of a system of conveyors;

FIG. 30 shows one embodiment of a first conveyor resting on an upper endon a second conveyor;

FIG. 31 shows a second embodiment of a conveyor;

FIG. 32 shows a third embodiment of a conveyor;

FIG. 33 shows a third embodiment of a conveyor system comprising two ormore conveyors;

FIG. 34 shows another embodiment of a conveyor; and

FIG. 35 shows a fourth embodiment of a conveyor system.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale,and various dimensions may be altered. In certain instances, detailsthat are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or thatrender other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. Itshould be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarilylimited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention described herein relates to a conveyor used in anyapplication where an article (such as a tire) may need to be transportedor lifted more than five feet. Such applications include moving tiresand articles during manufacture, after manufacture to be shipped,loading tires and articles on the shipping vessels, unloading the tiresand articles off of the shipping vessels, and moving the tires andarticles within stores and warehouses to their final storage place.

It should be appreciated that the particular implementations andembodiments shown and described herein are illustrative of the inventionand are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the presentinvention in any way. Indeed, for the sake of brevity, trivial andconventional features and aspects of the present invention are notdescribed in extensive detail herein. It should be understood that thelegal scope of the description is defined by the words of the claims setforth at the end of this disclosure. The detailed description is to beconstrued as exemplary only and does not describe every possibleembodiment since describing every possible embodiment would beimpractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments couldbe implemented, using either current technology or technology developedafter the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within thescope of the claims. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in thevarious figures shown herein are intended to represent exemplaryfunctional relationships and/or physical couplings between the variouselements of the system. It should be noted that many alternative oradditional functional relationships or physical connections may bepresent in a practical conveyor apparatus, conveying system, conveyingmethod, tire sorting system, and tire loading system.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the conveyor 100 of thepresent invention is shown. The embodiment of the conveyor 100 shown inFIG. 1 may convey tires 120 and comprise a belt 106, rounded cleats 107,an electrical box 118, and a support frame 110. The support frame 110may comprise a support stand 102, side panels 104, support bars 108, adrive pulley 122 interconnected to the support frame 110 at a point witha pin or other connecting mechanism 124, a tail pulley, and a side plate124. The conveyor 100 has a lower end 112, and an upper end 114. Thesupport stand 102 and side panels 104 may be any metal material. Inother embodiments, the support stand 102 and side panels 104 may becomposites or durable plastics. The tires 120 may be any tire of anyshape or size. The belt 106 may have one or more seams 120.

In some embodiments, the support stand 102 may be replaceable and may bereplaced with various support stands or wheels to move the conveyor fromlocation to location. The support stand 102 may also be secured to theground or to a floor surface to prevent movement of the conveyor 100.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an elevating belt conveyor 200. Theconveyor 200 may comprise cleats 207A, 207B, a belt 210, and a stand 250with wheels 254. The stand 250 may comprise rear tall support bars 252,a rear horizontal support bar 256, side horizontal support bars 258, afront horizontal support bar 260, and wheels 254. In variousembodiments, the stand 250 may be configured in ways other than thatshown in FIG. 2. One skilled in the art will contemplate otherconfigurations known now or in the future.

In various embodiments, the stand 250 may have wheels 254. In otherembodiments, the stand may not have wheels 254. Further, the stand 250may be removable and the conveyor may be secured to the ground or floorto prevent movement. In some embodiments, the wheels are detachable toprevent movement of the conveyor. Alternatively or additionally, thewheels may be lockable to prevent movement of the conveyor.

The conveyor 200 may also comprise a pulley 270, a crankshaft 272 orother means for tightening the pulley 270 and/or the belt 210. In someembodiments the underside 280 of the belt may be visible. The side ofthe conveyor 200 may have a side support or shield. The pulley 270 maybe a plain idler pulley with a belt tensioner 272. The lower pulley 122may also be a drive pulley for a rubber lagged conveyor belt. Theelectrical system may comprise an electrical box 218 with a motor. Themotor may have a thermal overload motor protector to protect the motorfrom overheating.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-7, different components of an embodiment of aconveyor are shown. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of aconveyor 300. FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the lower end of theembodiment of the conveyor shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an exploded viewof the upper end of the embodiment of the conveyor shown in FIG. 3. FIG.6 is an exploded view of the embodiment of the conveyor shown in FIG. 3.FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a section of a belt with cleats.

FIG. 3 shows a conveyor 300 with the conveyor belt removed to show othercomponents. In some embodiments the conveyor belt is also included. Theconveyor 300 may comprise side bars 170, a tail pulley 529, a drivepulley 528, a base plate 512 with a pin, and pin only hardware 512PO.

The lower end of the conveyor 300 is shown in FIG. 4. The lower end ofthe conveyor 300 may comprise a bearing with 3-hole triangularflangettes 149A, a motor 193, a speed reducer 510, a base plate 512, adrive pulley 528, a drive shaft 530, a chain guard 535, a 12 toothsprocket 540, a 30 tooth sprocket 542, and a section of roller chain545.

The bearing with 3-hole triangular flangettes 149A may comprise a 1″bearing. In one embodiment, the motor 193 may be a 1 hp 115V 56C TEFCmotor. In one embodiment, speed reducer 510 may include a ⅞″ O.D. shaft.In one embodiment, base plate 512 may include a pin and pin onlyhardware 512PO. In an embodiment, the drive pulley 528 may include a 1″bore. In an embodiment, the drive shaft 530 may include a 1″ O.D. In oneembodiment, the 12 tooth sprocket 540 may include a ⅞″ bore. In oneembodiment, the 30 tooth sprocket 542 may include a 1″ bore. In anembodiment, the section of roller chain 545 may be #40 roller chain (137pitches+connecting link).

The upper end of the conveyor 300 is shown in FIG. 5. The upper end ofthe conveyor 300 may comprise a bearing with 3-hole triangularflangettes 149, a take-up frame 515 with a screw (right hand side), atake-up frame 517 with a screw (left hand side), a tail pulley 529, atail shaft 531, a forward/reverse drum switch 195A, an ON/OFF motorrated toggle switch 195BSD, a main E-stop starter station 195C, a remoteE-stop station 195D, an E-stop switch (Red), a reverse switch (black), aforward switch (green), and a set of (2) nose wings 180 with hardware.

In some embodiments, the bearing with 3-hole triangular flangettes 149may be a 1″ bearing. In an embodiment, the tail pulley 529 may comprisea 1″ bore. In an embodiment, the tail shaft 531 may comprise a 1″ O.D.(outside diameter).

The conveyor 300 is shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 shows a piece of the belt505 with cleats 507A, 507B. In an embodiment, the belt 505 may be about18″ wide and about 1/32″ thick. Further, there may be a set of two boltson each cleat. In embodiments, the cleats may be a set of two cleatswhere one cleat 507A is the right hand side cleat with hardware and theother cleat 507B is the left hand side cleat with hardware. Further, thebelt 505 may comprise a set of #20×18″ long hammer-on lacing 524 or aset of #RS125×18″ long staple lacing 526.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a vertical conveyor 800 comprising acontrol switch 802 to turn the conveyor 800 on and off, a belt 806, anda cleat or supporting element 808. One embodiment of a tire rack 804 forholding tires 120 is also shown in FIG. 8. The vertical conveyor 800conveys tires 120 or other articles upward to high levels or highshelves of the rack 804 and conveys tires 120 downward from high levelsor shelves of the rack 804 to the ground for use or transport. Theconveyor 800 conveys items in a substantially vertical direction.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of two curved cleats 507A, 507B. In someembodiments, the cleats are 4″ cleats 507A, 507B. In an embodiment, thecleats 507A, 507B may include a set of two bolts. Further, the bolts maybe ¼″×1¼″ #1 elevator bolts with hardware. The cleats 507A, 507B mayalso include holes 902 for the bolts or other attachment/connectionmechanisms. The cleats 507A, 507B may have a flat lower area 904 (alsocalled a “block” herein) and a curved section 906. The curved section906 has a back side (i.e., the side showing and the side facing awayfrom the tire or article) and an article-supporting face 908 (not shown,and is positioned opposite the back side). The cleats 507A, 507B alsohave a top 912, a bottom 910, and sides 914.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an elevating beltconveyor conveying tires 920 to an upper floor 922. The conveyor maycomprise a belt 950 and cleats 507A, 507B. The belt 950 may have a seam1020 and an upper surface and a lower surface. The conveyor may alsohave an electrical box 918 with power buttons, and an emergency stopbutton, etc.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of an elevating conveyor 1000 conveyingsolar panels 1002. The conveyor may comprise a conveyor belt 1010, asupport frame 1110, cleats 1007A, 1007B, a stand 1050, and a retentionmechanism 1100. The retention mechanism 1100 has a lower end 1100A andan upper end 1100B. The retention mechanism 1100 is interconnected tothe support frame 1110 and does not run the entire length of the supportframe 1110 such that articles may be loaded onto the conveyor belt 1010at the bottom of the elevating conveyor 1000 and removed at the top ofthe elevating belt conveyor 1000. In one embodiment, the retentionmechanism 1100 is a set of bars made of the same material or a similarmaterial to the support frame 1110. Articles, such as solar panels 1002,do not touch the retention mechanism 1100 unless the article falls awayfrom the conveyor belt 1010. At that point, the retention mechanism 1100keeps the article from completely falling off of the conveyor 1000. Insome additional embodiments, the retention mechanism may also preventthe articles from moving from side to side on the conveyor 1000 or fromfalling off of the side of the conveyor 1000.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of an elevating conveyor 1200 used inindustrial uses. The elevating conveyor 1200 may comprise a supportframe 1208, motor 1206, pulley 1210, electrical system 1204, drivepulley 1210, and one or more cleats 1202. In some embodiments, thesupport frame 1208 may comprise support feet 1222 (alternative to asingle support stand as shown in FIG. 1 as element 102). Either asupport stand or support feet (even more than two feet) maybe be used inthe various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of a system of multiple elevating conveyors1200A, 1200B, 1200C stacked one on top of another. Each conveyor 1200A,1200B, 1200C includes a set of lower handles 1302A, and a set of upperhandles 1302B, and a receiving hopper 1304.

Other embodiments of cleats or support elements are shown in FIGS.14A-14C. Note that the term “cleat” and the term “support element” maybe used interchangeably herein. FIG. 14A shows an embodiment of cleatsholding a tire on a conveyor. The cleats in FIG. 14A are posts 58 thathave article-supporting faces 60 contoured to complement the shape ofand to mate with a conveyed article. The posts or cleats 58 also havearticle-supporting faces 60 that define a plane 1406A, 1406B oblique tothe direction of belt travel 1402 and intersecting at a point 1408 belowthe posts or cleats 58 on the belt. The angle defined by the cleats orposts 58 may also be measured from the horizontal line 1404. The cleatsin FIG. 14B are chevron-shaped flights 62 serving as pockets forconveyed articles. Each flight may be a single piece or segmented. InFIG. 14C, each cleat constitutes a pair of pins 64 between which anelastomeric band 66 is strung. The weight of the conveyed articlepushing on the elastomeric band stretches the band to conform to theouter surface of the conveyed article 10. These are just a fewadditional examples of cleats that are usable in the conveyors of FIGS.1-13. Other support elements, such as buckets, transverse flights, orarrays of pins, could alternatively be used.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show a portion of the conveyor belt 1502 with cleats1504A, 1504B. In one embodiment, the cleats 1504A, 1504B are about 4″tall and are used in pairs. In other embodiments, the cleats 1504A,1504B are between about 1″ and about 3.5″ tall and are used in pairs oras single support elements to move items along a conveyor belt. In oneembodiment, the belt 1502 is between about 12″ and 20″ wide and betweenabout 1/32″ and about ⅛″ thick. The belt 1502 can comprise a set of#20×18″ long hammer-on lacing 524 or a set of #RS125×18″ long staplelacing 526. Further, each cleat 1502A, 1502B may be interconnected tothe belt 1502 via a set of two bolts 1520. The bolts 1520 can bepositioned upwardly or downwardly through holes in the base of the cleat1520A, 1502B. Additionally, a gasket 1516 can be positioned between thebolt 1520 head and the belt 1502 or between the belt 1502 and the cleat1504A, 1504B. The gasket 1516 can be comprised of an elastic material,such as rubber, or any other strong material known in the art. Further,the gasket 1516 can be a single piece of material or it can be a 2-plygasket in some embodiments. Various embodiments include a washer 1514positioned between an upper surface of the base of the cleat 1504A,1504B and a nut 1510. The washer 1514 is a fender washer in oneembodiment. In a further embodiment, a lock washer 1512 is positionedbetween the washer 1514 and the nut 1510.

FIGS. 17A-D show various views of one embodiment of a cleat 1704 (alsocalled a support element herein). FIG. 17A is a perspective view of thecleat 1704. FIG. 17B is a top plan view of the cleat 1704. FIG. 17C is aside elevation view of the cleat 1704. FIG. 17D is a front elevationview of the cleat 1704. In some embodiments, the cleat 1704 is a 6″cleat. In other embodiments, the cleat 1704 is a 1.25″ cleat, a 1.25″cleat, a 2″ cleat, a 4″ cleat, or an 8″ cleat. The cleat 1704 may alsoinclude holes 1702 for bolts or other attachment or interconnectionmechanisms. In one embodiment, the holes 1702 have a diameter betweenabout ¼″ and 1″. In a preferred embodiment, the holes 1702 have adiameter of about 5/16″. The cleat 1704 can have a flat lower area 1724(also called a “block” herein) or a curved block 1724. In oneembodiment, the under surface 1734 of the block 1724 has a radius ofcurvature R6 between about 5″ and about 10″ and the block 1724 has awidth W1 between about 2″ and about 4″. In a preferred embodiment theunder surface 1734 of the block 1724 has a radius of curvature R6 ofabout 8.5″ and the block 1724 has a width of 2⅞ ″. The block can have aflat or a curved upper surface 1732. In one embodiment, the height H2 ofthe block 1724 (i.e., from the under surface 1734 to the upper surface1732) is between about ½″ and about 1.0″. In a preferred embodiment, theheight H2 of the block 1724 (i.e., from the under surface 1734 to theupper surface 1732) is about ¾″. The outer edge of the block 1724 canhave a square corner or a rounded corner. In one embodiment, the radiusof curvature R5 of the corner of the block 1724 is between about 1/16″and about ½″. In a preferred embodiment, the radius of curvature R5 ofthe corner of the block 1724 is about ¼″.

In some embodiments, the cleat 1704 also has a curved section 1706. Thecurved section 1706 has a back side 1726 (i.e., the side facing awayfrom the article conveyed) and an article-supporting face 1708positioned opposite the back side 1726. In one embodiment, thearticle-supporting face 1708 has a smaller radius of curvature R3 thanthe radius of curvature R2 of the back side 1726. Thus, the radius ofcurvature R3 of the article-supporting face 1708 may be between about 4″and about 6″ and the radius of curvature R2 of the back side 1726 may bebetween about 4.5″ and about 6.5″ in some embodiments. In a preferredembodiment, the radius of curvature R3 of the article-supporting face1708 is about 5″ and the radius of curvature R2 of the back side 1726 isabout 5.5″. The back side 1726 can be interconnected to the uppersurface 1732 of the block 1724 via a radius of curvature R4. The radiusof curvature R4 can be between about ⅛″ and about ½″ in someembodiments. In a preferred embodiment, the radius of curvature R4 isabout ¼″. The cleat 1704 also has a top 1712 and sides 1714. In oneembodiment, the height H1 from the under surface 1734 to the top of thetop 1712 is between about 4″ and about 6.5″. In a preferred embodiment,the height H1 from the under surface 1734 to the top of the top 1712 isabout 5.5″. In one embodiment, the length L1 from one side 1714 to theother side is between about 2″ and about 6″. In a preferred embodiment,the length L1 from one side 1714 to the other side is about 4″.Additionally, the top 1712 may be flat or curved. In one embodiment, theradius of curvature R1 of the top 1712 is between about 3/16″ and about½″. In a preferred embodiment, the radius of curvature R1 of the top1712 is about 5/16″.

In one embodiment, the entire width W2 of the cleat 1704 is betweenabout 5″ and about 6″. In a preferred embodiment, the width W2 of thecleat 1704 is about 5 3/16 ″. Further, the holes 1702 are positioned adistance W3 from the edge of the block 1724, where the distance W3 isbetween about 0.5″ and about 2″. In a preferred embodiment, the holes1702 are positioned a distance W3 from the edge of the block 1724, wherethe distance W3 is about 1.0″. Additionally, the holes 1702 arepositioned a distance W4, W5 from the side 1706, where the distance W4,W5 is between about ¼″ and about 1″. In a preferred embodiment, theholes 1702 are positioned a distance W4, W5 from the side 1706, wherethe distance W4, W5 is between about 9/16″.

FIG. 18 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a conveyor. Theconveyor can comprise and combination of the following parts, orequivalents thereof: handles 401, a 1″ bearing with 3-hole triangularflangettes 149, a start/stop switch 195BHRLUW, a ¼ hp 115V gearmotor400, a drive pulley 428 with a 1″ bore, a drive shaft 430 with a 1″O.D., a chain guard 435, a 12-tooth Sprocket 440 with a ¾″ bore for a#40 chain, a 20-tooth Sprocket 442 with a 1″ bore for a #40 chain, asection of #40 roller chain 445 (which can include 49 pitches andconnecting links), a 1″ bearing with rectangle/oval flangettes 149A, a⅝″ bearing with 2-hole oval flangettes 153A, a mounting bracket forreturn wheels 399, a return wheel/roller weld-on bracket 399, anelectrical inlet (male—not shown), an electrical outlet (female—notshown), a thermal overload reset button (not shown), return wheels 480with ⅝″ shaft, a tail pulley 469, with a 1″ bore, a tail shaft 472 witha 1″ O.D., a right-hand side take-up frame 485 with adjustment screw,and a left-hand side take-up frame 487 with adjustment screw. Furtherembodiments of the conveyor can include a 10-foot conveyor with 1¼″cleats, a 10-foot conveyor with a mini-cleated belt, a 12-foot conveyorwith 1¼″ cleats, or a 12-foot conveyor with a mini-cleated belt. Theconveyor may have the following belt parts and accessories in someembodiments: a dolly 152EZM, a weld-on tube receptor 152EZMT, a wheel231 for the dolly, a set of 1¼″ bolt on cleats 307 for a belt (which maybe 14 inches wide), a 2-ply belting, mini-cleated belting, a set of longhammer-on lacing 325 for smooth belt (may be #35×14″ lacing or #20×14″lacing), and a set of staple lacing 326 for smooth belt* (may be#RS187×14″ long or #RS125×14″ long).

FIG. 19 shows a portion of the conveyor belt 1902 with cleats 1904A,1904B, 1904C. In one embodiment, the cleats 1904A, 1904B, 1904C areabout 1¼″ tall and are used in threes. In other embodiments, the cleats1904A, 1904B, 1904C are between about 2″ and about 4″ tall and are usedin threes or as single support elements to move items along a conveyorbelt. In one embodiment, the belt 1902 is between about 12″ and 20″ wideand between about 1/32″ and about ⅛″ thick. The belt 1902 can comprise aset of hammer-on lacing 524 or a set of staple lacing 526. Further, eachcleat 1904A, 1904B, 1904C may be interconnected to the belt 1902 via aset of two bolts, a gasket, and other connecting elements.

FIGS. 20A-D show various views of one embodiment of a cleat 1904B (alsocalled a support element herein). The cleat 1904B can be configured tobe the right-hand cleat 1904B out of a group of two or three cleats.FIG. 20A is a perspective view of the cleat 1904B. FIG. 20B is a topplan view of the cleat 1904B. FIG. 20C is a side elevation view of thecleat 1904B. FIG. 20D is a front elevation view of the cleat 1904B.FIGS. 22A-D show various views of one embodiment of a cleat 1904A (alsocalled a support element herein). The cleat 1904A can be configured tobe the left-hand cleat 1904A out of a group of two or three cleats. FIG.22A is a perspective view of the cleat 1904A. FIG. 22B is a top planview of the cleat 1904A. FIG. 22C is a side elevation view of the cleat1904A. FIG. 22D is a front elevation view of the cleat 1904A.

Referring to FIGS. 20A-D and 22A-D, the cleats 1904A and 1904B shown aremirror images of one another in various embodiments. Therefore, whenreferring to either cleat, the number 1904 will be used. In someembodiments, the cleat 1904 is a 1¼″ cleat. In other embodiments, thecleat 1904 is a 1.25″ cleat, a 2″ cleat, a 4″ cleat, a 6″ cleat, or an8″ cleat. The cleat 1904 may also include holes 1902 for bolts or otherattachment or interconnection mechanisms. In one embodiment, the holes1902 have a diameter between about ¼″ and 1″. In a preferred embodiment,the holes 1902 have a diameter of about 5/16″. The cleat 1904 can have aflat lower area 1924 (also called a “block” herein) or a curved block1924. In one embodiment, the under surface 1934 of the block 1924 has aradius of curvature R6 between about 3″ and about 7″ and the block 1924has a width W1 between about 1″ and about 2″. In a preferred embodimentthe under surface 1934 of the block 1924 has a radius of curvature R6 ofabout 5″ and the block 1924 has a width of 1.5″. In one embodiment, thewidth W7 of the horizontal portion of the block 1924 is between about ¾″and about 1.5″. In a preferred embodiment, the width W7 of thehorizontal portion of the block 1924 is about 1⅛″. Further, the articlesupporting surface 1908 and the trailing edge 1950 are at an anglerelative to the sides 1914. Thus, the distance W6 from the leading edgeof one side 1914 to the leading edge of the other side 1914 is betweenabout ½″ and 2″. In a preferred embodiment, the distance W6 from theleading edge of one side 1914 to the leading edge of the other side 1914is about 1.0″. Further, the leading edge or article supporting surface1908 forms an angle with the vertical axis shown in FIGS. 20B and 20B,which would be the horizontal axis when the cleat 1904 is interconnectedto the belt. In some embodiments, the angle for the left cleat 1904A issubstantially the same as the angle for the right cleat 1904B and theangle is between about 10 degrees and about 75 degrees. In a preferredembodiment, the angle is between about 25 degrees and about 55 degrees.Typically, the sides 1914 are substantially parallel to the sides of thebelt.

The block can have a flat or a curved upper surface 1932. In oneembodiment, the height H2 of the block 1924 (i.e., from the undersurface 1934 to the upper surface 1932) is between about ¼″ and about1.0″. In a preferred embodiment, the height H2 of the block 1924 (i.e.,from the under surface 1934 to the upper surface 1932) is about 7/16″.The outer edge of the block 1924 can have a square corner or a roundedcorner. In one embodiment, the radius of curvature R5 of the corner ofthe block 1924 is between about 1/16″ and about ½″. In a preferredembodiment, the radius of curvature R5 of the corner of the block 1924is about ¼″.

In some embodiments, the cleat 1904 also has an upright section 1906.The upright section 1906 has a back side 1926 (i.e., the side facingaway from the article conveyed) and an article-supporting face 1908positioned opposite the back side 1926. The back side 1926 can beinterconnected to the upper surface 1932 of the block 1924 via a radiusof curvature R4. The radius of curvature R4 can be between about ⅛″ andabout ½″ in some embodiments. In a preferred embodiment, the radius ofcurvature R4 is about ¼″. The cleat 1904 also has a top 1912 and sides1914. In one embodiment, the height H1 from the under surface 1934 tothe top of the top 1912 is between about 1″ and about 2″. In a preferredembodiment, the height H1 from the under surface 1934 to the top of thetop 1912 is about 1¼″. In one embodiment, the length L1 from one side1914 to the other side is between about 1″ and about 3″. In a preferredembodiment, the length L1 from one side 1914 to the other side is about2.5″. Additionally, the top 1912 may be flat or curved. In oneembodiment, the radius of curvature R1 of the top 1912 is between about1/16″ and about ½″. In a preferred embodiment, the radius of curvatureR1 of the top 1912 is about 3/16″.

In one embodiment, the holes 1902 are positioned a distance W3 from theedge of the block 1924, where the distance W3 is between about 0.5″ andabout 2″. In a preferred embodiment, the holes 1902 are positioned adistance W3 from the edge of the block 1924, where the distance W3 isabout 1.0″. Additionally, the holes 1902 are positioned a distance W4,W5 from the side 1906, where the distance W4, W5 is between about ¼″ andabout 1″. In a preferred embodiment, the holes 1902 are positioned adistance W4, W5 from the side 1906, where the distance W4, W5 is betweenabout 9/16″.

FIGS. 21A-D show various views of one embodiment of a cleat B (alsocalled a support element herein). The cleat 2104B can be configured tobe the right-hand cleat 2104B out of a group of two or three cleats.FIG. 21A is a perspective view of the cleat 2104B. FIG. 21B is a topplan view of the cleat 2104B. FIG. 21C is a side elevation view of thecleat 2104B. FIG. 21D is a front elevation view of the cleat 2104B.FIGS. 23A-D show various views of one embodiment of a cleat 2104A (alsocalled a support element herein). The cleat 2104A can be configured tobe the left-hand cleat 2104A out of a group of two or three cleats. FIG.23A is a perspective view of the cleat 2104A. FIG. 23B is a top planview of the cleat 2104A. FIG. 23C is a side elevation view of the cleat2104A. FIG. 23D is a front elevation view of the cleat 2104A.

Referring to FIGS. 21A-D and 23A-D, the cleats 2104A and 2104B shown aremirror images of one another in various embodiments. Therefore, whenreferring to either cleat, the number 2104 will be used. In someembodiments, the cleat 2104 is a 2″ cleat. In other embodiments, thecleat 2104 is a 1.25″ cleat, a 4″ cleat, a 6″ cleat, or an 8″ cleat. Thecleat 2104 may also include holes 2102 for bolts or other attachment orinterconnection mechanisms. In one embodiment, the holes 2102 have adiameter between about ¼″ and 1″. In a preferred embodiment, the holes2102 have a diameter of about 5/16″. The cleat 2104 can have a flatlower area 2124 (also called a “block” herein) or a curved block 2124.In one embodiment, the under surface 2134 of the block 2124 has a radiusof curvature R6 between about 1″ and about 5″ and the block 2124 has awidth W1 between about 1″ and about 2″. In a preferred embodiment theunder surface 2134 of the block 2124 has a radius of curvature R6 ofabout 2 3/16″ and the block 2124 has a width of 1.5″. In one embodiment,the width W7 of the horizontal portion of the block 2124 is betweenabout ¾″ and about 1.5″. In a preferred embodiment, the width W7 of thehorizontal portion of the block 2124 is about 1⅛″. Additionally, thewidth W8 of the cleat 2104 from the trailing edge 2150 to the mostforward extending portion of the article supporting surface 2108 isbetween about 1″ and about 2.5″ in one embodiment. In a preferredembodiment, the width W8 of the cleat 2104 from the trailing edge 2150to the most forward extending portion of the article supporting surface2108 is about 1 13/16″. Further, the article supporting surface 2108 andthe trailing edge 2150 are at an angle relative to the sides 2114. Thus,the distance W6 from the leading edge of one side 2114 to the leadingedge of the other side 2114 is between about ½″ and 2″. In a preferredembodiment, the distance W6 from the leading edge of one side 2114 tothe leading edge of the other side 2114 is about 1⅛″. Further, theleading edge or article supporting surface 2108 forms an angle with thevertical axis shown in FIGS. 20B and 20B, which would be the horizontalaxis when the cleat 2104 is interconnected to the belt. In someembodiments, the angle for the left cleat 2104A is substantially thesame as the angle for the right cleat 2104B and the angle is betweenabout 10 degrees and about 75 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, theangle is between about 25 degrees and about 55 degrees.

The block can have a flat or a curved upper surface 2132. In oneembodiment, the height H2 of the block 2124 (i.e., from the undersurface 2134 to the upper surface 2132) is between about ¼″ and about1.0″. In a preferred embodiment, the height H2 of the block 2124 (i.e.,from the under surface 2134 to the upper surface 2132) is about 7/16″.The outer edge of the block 2124 can have a square corner or a roundedcorner. In one embodiment, the radius of curvature R5 of the corner ofthe block 2124 is between about 1/16″ and about ½″. In a preferredembodiment, the radius of curvature R5 of the corner of the block 2124is about ¼″.

In some embodiments, the cleat 2104 also has an upright section 2106,which may be curved or substantially straight. The upright section 2106has a back side 2126 (i.e., the side facing away from the articleconveyed) and an article-supporting face 2108 positioned opposite theback side 2126. In one embodiment, the article-supporting face 2108 hasa smaller radius of curvature R3 than the radius of curvature R2 of theback side 2126. Thus, the radius of curvature R3 of thearticle-supporting face 2108 may be between about 3″ and about 5″ andthe radius of curvature R2 of the back side 2126 may be between about 2″and about 4″ in some embodiments. In a preferred embodiment, the radiusof curvature R3 of the article-supporting face 2108 is about 4⅛ ″ andthe radius of curvature R2 of the back side 2126 is about 2 11/16″. Theback side 2126 can be interconnected to the upper surface 2132 of theblock 2124 via a radius of curvature R4. The radius of curvature R4 canbe between about ⅛″ and about ½″ in some embodiments. In a preferredembodiment, the radius of curvature R4 is about ¼″. The cleat 2104 alsohas a top 2112 and sides 2114. In one embodiment, the height H1 from theunder surface 2134 to the top of the top 2112 is between about 1″ andabout 3″. In a preferred embodiment, the height H1 from the undersurface 2134 to the top of the top 2112 is about 2″. In one embodiment,the length L1 from one side 2114 to the other side is between about 1″and about 3″. In a preferred embodiment, the length L1 from one side2114 to the other side is about 2⅝ ″. Additionally, the top 2112 may beflat or curved. In one embodiment, the radius of curvature R1 of the top2112 is between about 1/16″ and about ½″. In a preferred embodiment, theradius of curvature R1 of the top 2112 is about ⅛″. Further, the widthor thickness W9 of the upper portion of the upright section 2106 isbetween about ⅛″ and about ½″. In one embodiment, the width or thicknessW9 of the upper portion of the upright section 2106 is about ¼″.

In one embodiment, the holes 2102 are positioned a distance W3 from theedge of the block 2124, where the distance W3 is between about ¼″ andabout 1″. In a preferred embodiment, the holes 2102 are positioned adistance W3 from the edge of the block 2124, where the distance W3 isabout 9/16″. Additionally, the holes 2102 are positioned a distance W4,W5 from the side 2106, where the distance W4, W5 is between about ¼″ andabout 1″. In a preferred embodiment, the holes 2102 are positioned adistance W4, W5 from the side 2106, where the distance W4, W5 is betweenabout 9/16″.

FIGS. 24A-D show various views of one embodiment of a center cleat 1904C(also called a support element herein). The cleat 1904C can beconfigured to be the center cleat 1904C out of a group of three cleats.FIG. 24A is a perspective view of the cleat 1904C. FIG. 24B is a topplan view of the cleat 1904C. FIG. 24C is a side elevation view of thecleat 1904C. FIG. 24D is a front elevation view of the cleat 1904C. Insome embodiments, the cleat 1904C is a 1¼ ″ cleat. In other embodiments,the cleat 1904C is a 2″ cleat, a 4″ cleat, a 6″ cleat, or an 8″ cleat.The cleat 1904C may also include holes 1902 for bolts or otherattachment or interconnection mechanisms. In one embodiment, the holes1902 have a diameter between about ¼″ and 1″. In a preferred embodiment,the holes 1902 have a diameter of about 5/16″. The cleat 1904C can havea flat lower area 1924 (also called a “block” herein) or a curved block1924. In one embodiment, the under surface 1934 of the block 1924 has aradius of curvature R6 between about 3″ and about 7″ and the block 1924has a width W1 between about 1″ and about 2″. In a preferred embodimentthe under surface 1934 of the block 1924 has a radius of curvature R6 ofabout 5″ and the block 1924 has a width of 1.5″. In one embodiment, thewidth W7 of the horizontal portion of the block 1924 is between about ¾″and about 1.5″. In a preferred embodiment, the width W7 of thehorizontal portion of the block 1924 is about 1⅛ ″. Typically, the sides1914 are substantially parallel to the sides of the belt.

The block can have a flat or a curved upper surface 1932. In oneembodiment, the height H2 of the block 1924 (i.e., from the undersurface 1934 to the upper surface 1932) is between about ¼″ and about1.0″. In a preferred embodiment, the height H2 of the block 1924 (i.e.,from the under surface 1934 to the upper surface 1932) is about 7/16″.The outer edge of the block 1924 can have a square corner or a roundedcorner. In one embodiment, the radius of curvature R5 of the corner ofthe block 1924 is between about 1/16″ and about ½″. In a preferredembodiment, the radius of curvature R5 of the corner of the block 1924is about ¼″.

In some embodiments, the cleat 1904C also has an upright section 1906.The upright section 1906 has a back side 1926 (i.e., the side facingaway from the article conveyed) and an article-supporting face 1908positioned opposite the back side 1926. The back side 1926 can beinterconnected to the upper surface 1932 of the block 1924 via a radiusof curvature R4. The radius of curvature R4 can be between about ⅛″ andabout ½″ in some embodiments. In a preferred embodiment, the radius ofcurvature R4 is about ¼″. The cleat 1904C also has a top 1912 and sides1914. In one embodiment, the height H1 from the under surface 1934 tothe top of the top 1912 is between about 1″ and about 2″. In a preferredembodiment, the height H1 from the under surface 1934 to the top of thetop 1912 is about 1¼ ″. In one embodiment, the length L1 from one side1914 to the other side is between about 3″ and about 7″. In a preferredembodiment, the length L1 from one side 1914 to the other side is about5.5″. Additionally, the top 1912 may be flat or curved. In oneembodiment, the radius of curvature R1 of the top 1912 is between about1/16″ and about ½″. In a preferred embodiment, the radius of curvatureR1 of the top 1912 is about 3/16″.

In one embodiment, the holes 1902 are positioned a distance W3 from theedge of the block 1924, where the distance W3 is between about 0.25″ andabout 1″. In a preferred embodiment, the holes 1902 are positioned adistance W3 from the edge of the block 1924, where the distance W3 isabout 9/16″. Additionally, the holes 1902 are positioned a distance W4,W5 from the side 1906, where the distance W4, W5 is between about ¼″ andabout 1″. In a preferred embodiment, the holes 1902 are positioned adistance W4, W5 from the side 1906, where the distance W4, W5 is betweenabout 9/16″.

FIGS. 25A-D show various views of one embodiment of a cleat 2104C (alsocalled a support element herein). The cleat 2104C can be configured tobe the center cleat 2104C out of a group three cleats. FIG. 25A is aperspective view of the cleat 2104C. FIG. 25B is a top plan view of thecleat 2104C. FIG. 25C is a side elevation view of the cleat 2104C. FIG.25D is a front elevation view of the cleat 2104C. In some embodiments,the cleat 2104C is a 2″ cleat. In other embodiments, the cleat 2104C isa 1.25″ cleat, a 4″ cleat, a 6″ cleat, or an 8″ cleat. The cleat 2104Cmay also include holes 2102 for bolts or other attachment orinterconnection mechanisms. In one embodiment, the holes 2102 have adiameter between about ¼″ and 1″. In a preferred embodiment, the holes2102 have a diameter of about 5/16″. The cleat 2104C can have a flatlower area 2124 (also called a “block” herein) or a curved block 2124.In one embodiment, the under surface 2134 of the block 2124 has a radiusof curvature R6 between about 1″ and about 5″ and the block 2124 has awidth W1 between about 1″ and about 2″. In a preferred embodiment theunder surface 2134 of the block 2124 has a radius of curvature R6 ofabout 2 3/16″ and the block 2124 has a width of 1.5″. In one embodiment,the width W7 of the horizontal portion of the block 2124 is betweenabout ¾″ and about 1.5″. In a preferred embodiment, the width W7 of thehorizontal portion of the block 2124 is about 1⅛ ″. Additionally, thewidth W8 of the cleat 2104C from the trailing edge 2150 to the mostforward extending portion of the article supporting surface 2108 isbetween about 1″ and about 2.5″ in one embodiment. In a preferredembodiment, the width W8 of the cleat 2104C from the trailing edge 2150to the most forward extending portion of the article supporting surface2108 is about 1 13/16″.

The block can have a flat or a curved upper surface 2132. In oneembodiment, the height H2 of the block 2124 (i.e., from the undersurface 2134 to the upper surface 2132) is between about ¼″ and about1.0″. In a preferred embodiment, the height H2 of the block 2124 (i.e.,from the under surface 2134 to the upper surface 2132) is about 7/16″.The outer edge of the block 2124 can have a square corner or a roundedcorner. In one embodiment, the radius of curvature R5 of the corner ofthe block 2124 is between about 1/16″ and about ½″. In a preferredembodiment, the radius of curvature R5 of the corner of the block 2124is about ¼″.

In some embodiments, the cleat 2104C also has an upright section 2106,which may be curved or substantially straight. The upright section 2106has a back side 2126 (i.e., the side facing away from the articleconveyed) and an article-supporting face 2108 positioned opposite theback side 2126. In one embodiment, the article-supporting face 2108 hasa smaller radius of curvature R3 than the radius of curvature R2 of theback side 2126. Thus, the radius of curvature R3 of thearticle-supporting face 2108 may be between about 3″ and about 5″ andthe radius of curvature R2 of the back side 2126 may be between about 2″and about 4″ in some embodiments. In a preferred embodiment, the radiusof curvature R3 of the article-supporting face 2108 is about 4⅛ ″ andthe radius of curvature R2 of the back side 2126 is about 2 11/16″. Theback side 2126 can be interconnected to the upper surface 2132 of theblock 2124 via a radius of curvature R4. The radius of curvature R4 canbe between about ⅛″ and about ½″ in some embodiments. In a preferredembodiment, the radius of curvature R4 is about ¼″. The cleat 2104C alsohas a top 2112 and sides 2114. In one embodiment, the height H1 from theunder surface 2134 to the top of the top 2112 is between about 1″ andabout 3″. In a preferred embodiment, the height H1 from the undersurface 2134 to the top of the top 2112 is about 2″. In one embodiment,the length L1 from one side 2114 to the other side is between about 4″and about 8″. In a preferred embodiment, the length L1 from one side2114 to the other side is about 6″. Additionally, the top 2112 may beflat or curved. In one embodiment, the radius of curvature R1 of the top2112 is between about 1/16″ and about ½″. In a preferred embodiment, theradius of curvature R1 of the top 2112 is about ⅛″. Further, the widthor thickness W9 of the upper portion of the upright section 2106 isbetween about ⅛″ and about ½″. In one embodiment, the width or thicknessW9 of the upper portion of the upright section 2106 is about ¼″.

In one embodiment, the holes 2102 are positioned a distance W3 from theedge of the block 2124, where the distance W3 is between about ¼″ andabout 1″. In a preferred embodiment, the holes 2102 are positioned adistance W3 from the edge of the block 2124, where the distance W3 isabout 9/16″. Additionally, the holes 2102 are positioned a distance W4,W5 from the side 2106, where the distance W4, W5 is between about ¼″ andabout 1″. In a preferred embodiment, the holes 2102 are positioned adistance W4, W5 from the side 2106, where the distance W4, W5 is betweenabout 9/16″.

FIG. 26 shows a person moving the conveyor 2600. The conveyor 2600comprises a belt 2606, a plurality of cleats 2604A, 2604B, 2604C,support bars 2608 forming a frame or structure, a dolly with an axel2622 and wheels 2620, and handles 2602A. The conveyor 2600 can compriseupper handles (being held by the person) and lower handles 2602A. Theupper end is also called an idle end herein. Further, the plurality ofcleats 2604A, 2604B, 2604C can comprise multiple groups of three cleats2604A, 2604B, 2604C spaced apart from the next group of three cleats apredetermined distance based on the articles being conveyed. The framemay be metal or any other material known in the art. The belt cancomprise one or more seams. The handles 2602A and dolly allow a personto move the conveyor 2600 easily. FIG. 27 shows the dolly 2630comprising an axel 2622 and wheels 2620.

FIG. 28 is a side view of two conveyors interconnected to one another.The upper conveyor comprises a belt 2606 and at least one cleat 2644, apair of cleats 2644, or a group of cleats 2644. The belt 2606 can beraised above an upper portion of the support bars 2608 and frame for atleast a portion of the length of the conveyor. The conveyor alsocomprises upper handles 2602B and an electrical inlet 2660 and anelectrical outlet 2662. The lower conveyor comprises handles 2602A, abelt 2606, and a receiving hopper 2664 with an inner surface 2666. Thereceiving hopper 2664 can have three sides to help funnel conveyed itemsand material (especially loose material like dirt or stones) onto theconveyor belt 2606.

FIG. 29 is a second embodiment of a system 2900 of conveyors 2600. Eachconveyor 2600 comprises a belt, a plurality of cleats 2604, support bars2608 forming a support frame, handles 2602A, and a receiving hopper 2664with an inner funnel-shaped portion 2666.

FIG. 30 shows one embodiment of a first conveyor resting on an upper endon a second conveyor. The first conveyor comprises a belt 2606, supportbars 2608 forming a support frame, a plurality of cleats 2604, areceiving hopper 2664, and handles 2602A, 2602B. The handles can includeone or more upper handles 2602B and one or more lower handles 2602A. Thereceiving hopper 2664 has an inner surface 2666 for funneling items ontothe conveyor belt 2606. The plurality of cleats 2604 may comprisemultiple groups of cleats, where each group of cleats comprises a leftcleat 2604A, a right cleat 2604B, and a center cleat 2604C.

FIG. 31 shows a second embodiment of a conveyor 3100. The conveyor 3100comprises a belt 3106, a support frame 3108, a plurality of cleats 3104,a receiving hopper 3102, and a dolly with legs 3122 and wheels 3120. Thereceiving hopper 3102 funnels items onto the conveyor belt 3106. Theplurality of cleats 3104 may comprise multiple groups of cleats, whereeach group of cleats comprises a left cleat 3104A, a right cleat 3104B,and a center cleat 3104C.

FIG. 32 shows a third embodiment of a conveyor 3200. The conveyor 3200comprises a belt 3206, a support frame 3208, a plurality of cleats 3204,and handles 3202B. The conveyor 3200 can further include one or morelower handles (not shown) that look and perform similar to the upperhandles 3202. The plurality of cleats 3204 may comprise multiple groupsof cleats, where each group of cleats comprises a left cleat 3204A, aright cleat 3204B, and a center cleat 3204C.

FIG. 33 shows a third embodiment of a conveyor system 3300 comprisingtwo or more conveyors. Each conveyor in the system 3300 comprises atleast one of a belt 3306, a support frame 3308, a plurality of cleats3304, and a receiving hopper 3334. The conveyors can further include oneor more handles. The plurality of cleats 3304 may comprise multiplegroups of cleats, where each group of cleats comprises a left cleat3304A, a right cleat 3304B, and a center cleat 3304C. The cleats 3304A,3304B, 3304C can be shaped similar to any of the cleats disclosedherein.

FIG. 34 shows another embodiment of a conveyor 3400. The conveyor 3400comprises a belt 3406, a support frame 3408, a plurality of cleats 3404,and handles 3402. The conveyor 3400 can further include a hopper (notshown) that looks and performs similar to the hoppers disclosed herein.The plurality of cleats 3404 may comprise multiple groups of cleats,where each group of cleats comprises a left cleat 3404A, a right cleat3404B, and a center cleat 3404C, each interconnected to the belt 3406via bolts or other securing mechanisms. The handles 3402 may compriselower handles 3402A and upper handles 3402B, which are similar to otherhandles disclosed herein.

FIG. 35 shows a fourth embodiment of a conveyor system 3500 comprisingmultiple conveyors. Each conveyor in the system 3500 comprises at leastone of a belt 3506, a support frame 3508, a plurality of cleats 3504,and a receiving hopper. The conveyors can further include one or morehandles. The plurality of cleats 3504 may comprise multiple groups ofcleats, where each group of cleats comprises a left cleat 3504A, a rightcleat 3504B, and a center cleat 3504C. The cleats 3504A, 3504B, 3504Ccan be shaped similar to any of the cleats disclosed herein.

While various embodiment of the present invention have been described indetail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of thoseembodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to beexpressly understood that such modifications and alterations are withinthe scope and spirit of the present disclosure, as set forth in thefollowing claims.

The foregoing discussion of the disclosure has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intendedto limit the disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. In theforegoing Detailed Description for example, various features of thedisclosure are grouped together in one or more embodiments for thepurpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is notto be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed disclosurerequires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather,as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than allfeatures of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the followingclaims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with eachclaim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of thedisclosure.

Moreover, though the present disclosure has included descriptions of oneor more embodiments and certain variations and modifications, othervariations and modifications are within the scope of the invention,e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art,after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtainrights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted,including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures,functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not suchalternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions,ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publiclydedicate any patentable subject matter. Further, the invention(s)described herein is capable of other embodiments and of being practicedor of being carried out in various ways. It is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A conveyor for conveying articles upinclines, the conveyor comprising, an endless conveyor belt having anouter article-conveying surface and an underside surface opposite theouter article-conveying surface, said endless conveyor belt advancing ina direction of belt travel along a conveying path, wherein the conveyingpath includes an inclined portion; a plurality of support elementsextending outwardly from the outer article-conveying surface of theconveyor belt and spaced apart at the predetermined distance, whereinthe plurality of support elements comprises groups of two or moresupport elements and each support element is positioned with a spacebetween each support element in the groups, wherein each support elementcomprises: an upright section having an upper portion and anarticle-supporting face generally positioned in the direct of belttravel; and a bottom section with a bottom surface, wherein the bottomsurface is interconnected to the outer article-conveying surface of theconveyor belt; a support frame with a support stand positioned proximateto the floor surface and support bars; a drive pulley interconnected tothe support frame and positioned at the bottom end of the support frame,wherein the underside surface of the conveyor belt engages an outersurface of the drive pulley; a tail pulley interconnected to the supportframe and positioned at a top end of the support frame, wherein theunderside surface of the conveyor belt engages an outer surface of thetail pulley; a first pair of handles interconnected to the support frameand positioned proximate the top end of the support frame; and whereinthe article-supporting face of the support element is curved at a secondradius of curvature, wherein the upright section further comprises aback side opposite the article-supporting face, said back side is curvedwith a third radius of curvature, and wherein the second radius ofcurvature is smaller than the third radius of curvature.
 2. A conveyoras in claim 1, further comprising a motor for moving the conveyor beltaround the drive pulley and tail pulley.
 3. A conveyor as in claim 1,wherein the predetermined distance is approximately equal to betweenabout 1.25 and 1.75 times a length of an article conveyed.
 4. A conveyoras in claim 1, wherein each support element further comprises a toppositioned at the upper portion of the upright section and opposite thebottom surface, wherein the top has a curved surface having a firstradius of curvature.
 5. A conveyor as in claim 1, wherein the bottomsurface is bonded to the outer article-conveying surface of the conveyorbelt.
 6. A conveyor as in claim 1, wherein the support elements are madeof an elastomeric material that conforms to the shape of a conveyedarticle on the inclined portion of the conveying path.
 7. A conveyor forconveying articles up inclines, the conveyor comprising, an endlessconveyor belt having an outer article-conveying surface and an undersidesurface opposite the outer article-conveying surface, said endlessconveyor belt advancing in a direction of belt travel along a conveyingpath, wherein the conveying path includes an inclined portion; aplurality of support elements extending outwardly from the outerarticle-conveying surface of the conveyor belt and spaced apart at thepredetermined distance, wherein the plurality of support elementscomprises groups of two or more support elements and each supportelement is positioned with a space between each support element in thegroups, wherein each support element comprises: an upright sectionhaving an upper portion and an article-supporting face generallypositioned in the direct of belt travel; and a bottom section with abottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is interconnected to theouter article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt; a support framewith a support stand positioned proximate to the floor surface andsupport bars; a drive pulley interconnected to the support frame andpositioned at the bottom end of the support frame, wherein the undersidesurface of the conveyor belt engages an outer surface of the drivepulley; a tail pulley interconnected to the support frame and positionedat a top end of the support frame, wherein the underside surface of theconveyor belt engages an outer surface of the trail pulley; a first pairof handles interconnected to the support frame and positioned proximatethe top end of the support frame; and wherein a first support element ina group of two or more support elements has an article-supporting facedefining a first plane oblique to the direction of belt travel and asecond support element in the group of two or more support elements hasan article-supporting face defining a second plane oblique to thedirection of belt travel, wherein the first plane and the second planeintersect at a point on the conveyor belt below the first supportelement and the second support element.
 8. A conveyor as in claim 7,wherein a third support element in the group of two or more supportelements has an article-supporting face defining a third planesubstantially perpendicular to the direction of belt travel.
 9. Aconveyor as in claim 7, further comprising a motor for moving theconveyor belt around the drive pulley and tail pulley.
 10. A conveyor asin claim 7, wherein the predetermined distance is approximately equal tobetween about 1.25 and 1.75 times a length of an article conveyed.
 11. Aconveyor as in claim 7, wherein each support element further comprises atop positioned at the upper portion of the upright section and oppositethe bottom surface, wherein the top has a curved surface having a firstradius of curvature.
 12. A conveyor as in claim 7, wherein each supportelement further comprises a top surface positioned at the upper portionof the upright section and opposite the bottom surface, wherein the topsurface is substantially parallel to the bottom surface.
 13. A conveyoras in claim 7, wherein the bottom surface is bonded to the outerarticle-conveying surface of the conveyor belt.
 14. A conveyor as inclaim 7, wherein the support elements are made of an elastomericmaterial that conforms to the shape of a conveyed article on theinclined portion of the conveying path.
 15. A conveyor for conveyingarticles up inclines, the conveyor comprising: an endless conveyor belthaving an outer article-conveying surface and advancing in a directionof belt travel along a conveying path, wherein the conveying pathincludes an inclined portion; a plurality of support elements extendingoutwardly from the outer article-conveying surface of the conveyor beltand spaced apart at least a distance between about 1.25 and 1.75 times alength of the article conveyed on said conveyor belt, wherein eachsupport element comprises: an upright section having an upper portionand an article-supporting face generally positioned in the direction ofbelt travel, wherein the article-supporting face of the support elementis curved at a first radius of curvature, and a bottom section with abottom surface interconnected to the outer article-conveying surface ofthe conveyor belt; a support frame comprising welded steel tubing and adolly with an axel and two wheels; one or more handles extendingoutwardly from at least one of the lower portion of the support frameand an upper portion of the support frame; a drive pulley interconnectedto the support frame and positioned at the bottom end of the supportframe, wherein an underside of the conveyor belt engages an outersurface of the drive pulley; and a tail pulley interconnected to thesupport frame and positioned at a top end of the support frame, whereinan underside of the conveyor belt engages an outer surface of the tailpulley, and wherein the plurality of support elements comprises a firstsupport element extending horizontally across the belt and perpendicularto the direction of belt travel and spaced apart from a second supportelement extending horizontally across the belt and perpendicular to thedirection of belt travel.
 16. A conveyor as in claim 15, wherein theinclined portion of the conveying path is approximately 60 degrees asmeasured from a horizontal plane.
 17. A conveyor as in claim 15, furthercomprising a receiving hopper at a lower portion of the conveyor, thereceiving hopper comprising at least three sides forming a funnel-likeshape.
 18. A conveyor as in claim 15, wherein the plurality of supportelements are made of an elastomeric material that conforms to the shapeof a conveyed article on the inclined portion of the conveying path.